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HISTORY 



Kit - -^. 1 , - F 

. - ( 

H-EIEC A CO HIT Y: 

CONTAINING 

A DETAILED NARRATIVE 

OK THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE ITS IIEST 
SETTLEMENT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME; 

A HISTORY OF THE INDIANS 

THAT FORMERLY RESIDED WITHIN ITS LIMITS; 

(ti E O G R A P H I C A L DESCRIPTIONS, 

E A R L Y CUSTOMS, 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, &c. &c. 

WITH AN 



INTRODUCTION, 



#ONTAlNINU A BRIEF HISTORV OF THE STATE, FROM THE DISCOVKRl 

OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DOWN TO THE YEAR 1817, 

TO THE WHOLE OF WHICH IS ADDED 

AN APPENDIX, r<<5p^7' ""• 

CONTAINING >C^^" ^ 

Tabular Views, <&c. ~"™^ 

BY CONSUL W. BUTTERFlELD. 

SANDUSKY: 
D. CAMPBELL & SONS, WATER STREM^ 

1848. 



DEDICATION 



TO 

ROBERT G. PENNINGTON, ESQ., 

THESE UNPRETENDING PAGES 
ARE INSCRIBED 

sr I T H FEELINGS OF PROFOUND RESPECT, 

B¥ 
SI^! HUMBLE AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, 

CONSUL \r. BUTTERFIELD. 






PREFACE 



The object in writing the following pages has been to 
perpetuate the memory of our oldest settlers, and to rescue 
from oblivion such as is of interest to our citizens, by giving a 
faithful narrative of the most important events which have 
occurred within the limits of the county. 

We had at first prepared a limited sketch, which was 
intended for publication in one of the county papers; but at 
the suggestion of our very esteemed friend, Mr. James Gray, 
of Melmore — and as, upon investigation, it was found that 
much matter might be added which would interest the public, 
we have produced this volume. 

Much of the materials have been furnished us by those who 
are residents of, or have resided within the county; and while 
we have sought the homes of early settlers for information, we 
have been greeted with a frank welcome, characteristic of its 
inhabitants. 

As our pleasant, though arduous task is now finished, we 
take this opportunity to acknowledge the many obligations due 
to those who have been pleased to render us assistance, and 
the work is now respectfully submitted to the public, for their 
careful and candid perusal. C. W. B. 

Tiffin, Dec. 1st, 1847. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Ohio* derives its name from the river which washes nearly 
all of its eastern and southern boundary. The name is of 
Indian origin; and some writers have imagined it to signify 
handsome river; as, about the middle of the eighteenth century, 
some French explorers of the country, who found the stream 
a pleasant one to sail upon, and fine lands along its borders, 
called it, ^^ la-helle-riviere,^^ or the beautiful river. But that 
circumstance could have had no influence with the Indians, at 
an earlier period, in inducing them to give it a name of that 
signification. Another, and more probable meaning of the 
word Ohio, is bloody. This was applied by the Indians to the 
river, from the circumstance of numerous bloody battles having 
been fought along the shore, by different tribes, in centuries 
past. This signification is corroborated by the white woman 
whose history has been given to the world, and which would 
seem to establish the fact beyond a doubt. 

* The SJfiawanese called the Ohio river, Kis, ke, pi,.la Sepe— i. e., Eagle river. Th» 
Wyandots were in the country generations before the Shawanese, and consequently their 
name of the river is the primitive one, and should stand in preference to all others. 
Ohio may be called an improvement on the expression, O, he, zuh, and was, no doubt, 
adopted by the early French voyagers in their boat songs, and is substantially the same 
word as used by the Wyandots; the meaning applied by the French, fair and beautiful,, 
"la belle riviere," being precisely the same as meant by the Indians — great, granii 
».Tid fair to look upon. Col.. John lowserQu.. 



Q INTRODUCTION. 

The present state of Ohio, is a part of that vast region,, 
formerly claimed by France, between the Alleghany and Rocky 
mountains, and first known by the general name of Louisiana,. 
The earliest civilized inhabitants were Frenchmen. As early 
as the year 1673, two French missionaries penetrated from 
Canada to the Mississippi, and they may be regarded as the 
discoverers of that mighty river. Their names were Mar- 
quette and Joliet. They commenced their journey of discovery 
from Quebec, with five men; traversed the rivers, forests and 
immense inland seas, and arrived at last at Green Bay. From 
Green Bay, they pursued their course up Fox river, crossed 
the Portage from its head to that of the Wisconsin; when, 
with no companions but the two, they embarked upon its bosom 
and followed its course, unknown whither it would lead them. 
Solitary they floated along till in seven days they entered, with 
inexpressible joy, the broad Mississippi. Sailing on their soli- 
tary way, the discoverers heard afar, a rush of waters from the 
west — and soon the vast Missouri came down with its fiercer 
current, to hasten on the more sluggish Mississippi. They 
discovered and passed the mouth of the Ohio; nor did they 
stop till they had descended the river a thousand miles, to its 
confluence with the Arkansas; and ascertained, as well from 
its general course as from the information of the Indians, that 
its mouth must be far west of the English colonies on the At- 
lantic coast. 

The day of the discovery of the Mississippi river, an era 
which should be so memorable to this country, was June 1.5th, 
1673. We can imagine the sensations of these explorers, 
when they first beheld that broad and beautiful river. We 
can fancy how their imaginations kindled at the view of the 
romantic bluffs, the grand forests, the flowering prairies, the 
tangled grape vines on the trees, the beautiful birds that flutter- 
ed among the branches, the swans, sailing in their stateliness on 



INTRODUCTION. 9f 

the stream, and, as j^et, unterrified by the si^ht of man; the 
fishes darting in the pellucid wave, and nature in her array of 
June ! 

Marquette and Joliet now retraced their course to the the Illi- 
nois; entered and ascended that river and beheld the beautiful 
fertility of its summer prairies, abounding in game. They 
visited Chicago, and in September were again at Green Bay.. 
The next year, Marquette retired for devotion, from the com- 
pany with which he was journeying, to pray by a rude altar of 
stones beneath the silent shade. There, half an hour afterwards, 
his dead body was found. He was buried on the shore of the 
lake, and the Indians fancy that his spirit still controls the 
storms. 

On the return, Joliet found at Frontenac, M. de la Salle, who 
was then commandant of the Fort. It may be expected that 
he did not undervalue their discovery or underrate the beauty 
of the river and country which he had explored. La Salle at 
once gave up his imagination and his thoughts to this discovery. 
He was a man of standing, courage and talent, and well fitted 
for the enterprise. At the close of the summer of 1679, he 
had, by the greatest exertions, equipped a small vessel, called 
the Griffin, at the lower end of Lake Erie, and launched it upon 
its waters. This was tbe first vessel that ever navigated lake 
Erie. On his journey across the lakes he was accompanied 
by father Hennepin, a Jesuit, and forty men. He marked De- 
troit as a suitable place for a colony; gave name to Lake St. 
Clair, planted a trading house at Mackinaw, and finally cast 
anchor in Green Bay. At length, through many discourage- 
ments by disaster, treachery and defeat, they reached the 
great Illinois. Here La Salle sent out a party, under Henne- 
pin, to explore the sources of the Mississippi; while he returned 
on foot to Frontenac. The next year, having returned to the 
illinoisj he built a small vessel and sailed down the Mississippi 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

antil he reached its mouth. He also erected forts and estab- 
lished settlements at various points. Fully satisfied of the vast 
importance of prosecuting the system of colonization thus 
commenced, he proceeded to France and communicated his 
ideas to the French government. The minister of the French' 
king readily entered into a scheme, which not only promised 
an immense accession of valuable territory, but seemed likely 
to create a permanent and efficient barrier to the western ex- 
tension of the English colonies. An expedition was fitted out 
for the prupose of planting a colony at the mouth of the Mis- 
sissippi river, and command given to La Salle. This expedition 
failed, and its illustrious but unfortunate commander perished, 
a victim to the treachery of his own men. 

This expedition did not, however, quench or abate the ardor 
of the French in the prosecution of their great plan. A second . 
expedition sailed from France, under the command of M. 
D'Iberville. This officer explored the Mississippi river for 
several hundred miles, and permanent settlements were made 
at different points; and from this time, the French colony west 
of the Alleghanies, though occasionally harassed by the 
English and the Spaniards, steadily increased in numbers and. 
in strength. 

Before the^ completion of the first quarter of the eighteenth 
century the colony had been divided into quarters, each having 
its local governor or commandant and judge; but all were 
subject to the superior council-general of Louisiana. One of 
these quarters was established north-west of the Ohio. Forts 
had also been erected on the Mississippi, on the Illinois, on the 
Maumee and on the lakes. Still, however, the communication 
with Canada was through Lake Michigan, as the nearer route 
through the Ohio river and Lake Erie had not yet been dis- 
covered. This discovery was, however, made soon afterwards. 
Before the year 1750, a French fort had been fortified at the 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

effectually obeyed. Both flanks of the Indian position were 
immediately turned, and a rapid and threatening movement 
upon their front, quickly compelled them to give way. Craw- 
ford now took possession of the wood, but scarcely had he done 
so, when the main body of the enemy hurried up to the assist- 
ance of their van, and, out-flanking Crawford, in turn opened 
a heavy and galling fire upon his men, from which they found 
it very diflScult to obtain shelter. 

. The action now became sharp and serious; Crawford main- 
taining his ground, and the enemy, (who were hourly increas- 
ing in number,) making the most strenuous efforts to regain 
the wood. From four in the evening until dusk, the firing 
was very heavy, and the loss considerable. During the whole 
of this time scarcely an Indian was visible, unless for a moment 
when shifting his position. Their number could only be 
ascertained from the many wreaths of smoke v/hich arose from 
every bush, ti-ee, or tuft of grass within view. At night the 
enemy drew ofi", and Crawford's party slept upon their arms 
upon the field of battle. On the next day the attack was 
renewed, but at more respectful distance. The Indians had 
apparently sustained some loss on the close firing of the 
preceding evening, and seemed now determined to await the 
arrival of additional reinforcements. Occasional shots were 
fired through the day, on both sides, but without much injury 
to either. As soon as it was dark, the field officers assembled 
in council; and, as the numbers of the enemy were evidently 
increasing every moment, it was unanimously determined to 
retreat by night, as rapidly as was consistent with order and 
preservation of the wounded. The resolution was quickly 
announced to the troops, and the necessary dispositions made 
for carrying it into, effect. The out-posts were silently with- 
drawn from the vicinity of the enemy, and as fast as they came 
in, the troops were formed in three parallel lines, with the 



16 INTRODUCTION. 

wounded borne upon biers in the centre. By nine o'clock at 
night, all necessary arrangements had been made, and the 
retreat began in good order. 

Unfortunately, they had scarcely moved a hundred paces, 
when the report of several rifles were heard in the rear, in the 
direction of the Indian encampment. The troops soon became 
very unsteady. At length, a solitary voice, in the front rank, 
called out that their design was discovered and that the Indians 
would soon be upon them. Nothing more was necessary. 
The cavalry were instantly broken; and, as usual, each man 
endeavored to save himself as best he could. A prodigious 
uproar ensued, which quickly communicated to the enemy that 
the white men had routed themselves and that they had nothing 
to do but pick up stragglers. The miserable wounded, not- 
withstanding the piercing cries with which they supplicated to 
be taken with them, were abandoned to the mercy of the enemy, 
and soon put out of pain. 

Dr. Knight, the surgeon of the detachment, was in the rear 
when the fight commenced, but seeing the necessity of 
dispatch, he put spurs to his horse and galloped through the 
woods as fast as the darkness of the night would permit. He 
had not advanced three hundred yards, when he heard the 
voice of Colonel Crawford, a short distance in front, calling 
aloud for his son, John Crawford, his son-in-law, Major Harri- 
son, and his two nephews. Major Rose and William Crawford. 
Dr. Knight replied, in the same loud tone, that he believed 
the young men were in front. " Is that you, Doctor ?" asked 
Crawford, eagerly; for no features could be recognized in the 
darkness. "Yes, Colonel; I am the hindmost man, I believe." 
" No, no !" replied Crawford, anxiously; " my son is in the 
rear yet: I have not been able to hear of him in front ! Do 
not leave me. Doctor; my horse has almost given out; I can- 



INTRODUCTION. 17 

not keep up with the troops, and I wish a few of my best 
friends to stay with me !" 

Knight assured him that he might rely upon his support in 
any extremity, and drew up his horse by his side. Colonel 
Crawford still remained upon the same spot, calling loudly for 
his son, until the last straggler had passed. He then, in strong 
language, reprobated the conduct of the militia, in breaking 
their ranks and abandoning the wounded, but quickly returned 
to the subject of his son, and appeared deeply agitated at the 
uncertainty of his fate. Perceiving, however, that further 
delay must terminate in death or captivity, the party set spurs 
to their horses and followed the route of the troops. Presently 
an old man and a lad joined them. Crawford eagerly asked if 
they had seen his son or nephews 1 They assured him that 
they had not; upon which he sighed deeply, but made no 
reply. 

At this instant, a heavy fire was heard at the distance- of &■ 
mile in front, accompanied by yells, screams, and all the usual 
attendants of battle. Not a doubt was entertained but that the 
Indians had intercepted the retreat of the main body, and were 
now engaged with them. Having lost all confidence in his 
men, Crawford did not choose t-o unite his fortune to theirs, 
and changed his course to the northward, in such a manner as 
to leave the combatants upon the right. He continued in this 
direction for nearly an hour, until he supposed himself out of 
the immediate line of the enemy's operations, when he again 
changed his course to the eastward, moving as rapidly as possi- 
hie, with an interval of twenty paces between them, and 
steadily regulating their route by the north star. The boy 
who accompanied them was brisk md active, but the old man 
constantly lagged behind, and^ as constantly shouted aloud for 
them to wait for him.. They often remonstrated with him upon 
the impropriety of making so much noise, at a time when all' 



18 INTRODUCTION. 

their lives depended upon secrecy and celerity; and he repeat- 
edly promised to do so no more. 

At length, upon crossing Sandusky creek, the old man found 
himself once more considerably in the rear, and once more- 
shouted aloud for them to wait, until he could come up. Be- 
fore they could reply, a halloo was heard in the rear of their 
left, and apparently not more than one hundred paces from the 
spot where the old man stoodl Supposing it to be the cry of 
an Indian, they remained still and silent for several minutes, 
looking keenly around them in the expectation of beholding 
an enemy. Every thing, however, remained silent. The old 
man was heard no more, and whether he escaped, or was 
killed, could never be ascertained. The party continued their 
flight until day-break, when Colonel Crawford's horse and that 
of the boy, sunk under their riders and were abandoned. 

Continuing their journey on foot, they quickly fell in with. 
Captain Biggs, an expert woodman and gallant officer, who, in 
the universal scattering, had generously brought off a wounded 
Omcer, Lieutenant Ashley, upon his own horse, and was now 
composedly walking by his side, with a rifle in his hand and a 
knapsack upon his shouldei's. This casual meeting was grati- 
fying to both parties, and they continued their journey with 
renewed spirits. At three o'clock in the afternoon, a heavy fall 
of rain compelled them to encamp. A temporary shelter was 
quickly formed by barking several trees, after the manner of 
the Indians, and spreading the bark over poles so as to form a 
roof. A fire was then kindled, and the rain continued to pour 
down in torrents. They remained here through the night 
without any accident. 

Continuing their route on the following morning, at the dis- 
tance of three miles from the camp, they found a deer, which 
had recently been killed and skinned.. The meat was neatly 
sliced and bundled up in the skiii, and a tomahawk lay near — 



INTRODUCTION^ 19 

giving room for suspicion that Indians were in the neighbor- 
hood. As the whole party had fasted for thirty-six hours, this 
was a very acceptable treat, and lifting the skin, with the meat 
enclosed, from the ground, they carried it with them until they 
had leisure to cook it. Having advanced a mile farther, they 
observed a smoke in the woods before them. The party 
instantly halted, while Colonel Crawford and Dr.. Knight went 
forward to reconnoiten 

Cautiously approaching the fire, they found it burning bright- 
ly, but abandoned, from which they inferred that a party had 
encamped there the preceding night, and had retired a few 
minutes before their approach. Having carefully examined 
the bushes around, and discovered no Indian signs, they directed 
their friends in the rear to come up, a-nd quickly set about pre- 
paring breakfast. In a few minutes,, they observed a white 
man, skulking in the rear, examining the trail and apparently 
very shy of approaching them. Calling out to him in a 
friendly tone, they invited him to approach without fear, assur- 
ing him that they were countrymen and friends. The man. 
instantly complied, and informed them that he had killed the 
deer which they were cooking, but hearing them approach, he 
had taken them for enemies, and had fled into the bushes for 
concealment. 

Highly pleased at the accession to their strength, the party 
breakfasted heartily upon the deer and continued their march.. 
By noon, they had reached the path by which the army had 
marched, a few days before, in their advance upon the Indian 
towns, and some discussion took place as to the propriety of 
taking that road homeward. Biggs and the doctor strenuously 
insisted upon continuing their course through the woods, and. 
avoiding all paths; but Crawford overruled them, assuring them 
that the Indians would not urge their pursuit beyond the plains 
which were, already far behind.. Unfortunately, the colonel 



20 INTRODUCTION. 

prevailed; and, abandoning their due eastern course, the parly- 
pursued the beaten path. Crawford and Knight moved one 
hundred and fifty yards in front, Biggs and his vi^ounded friend, 
Ashley, were in the center, both on horseback, the doctor 
having lent Biggs his horse, and the two men on foot brought 
up the rear. 

They soon had reason to repent their temerity. Scarcely 
had they advanced a mile, when several Indians sprung up 
within twenty yards of Knight and Crawford,, presenting their 
guns, and in good English ordered them to stop. Knight 
instantly sprung behind a large black oak, cocked his gun and 
began to take aim at the foremost. Crawford, however, did 
not attempt to conceal himself, but calling hastily to Knight, 
ordered him twice not to fire. 

Instantly, the Indian at whom Knight had taken aim, ran up 
to the colonel with every demonstration of friendship, shook 
his hand cordially, and asked him how he did. Knight still 
maintaining a hostile attitude behind the tree, Crawford called 
to him again, and ordered him to put down his gun, which the 
doctor very reluctantly obeyed. 

Biggs and Ashley, seeing the condition of their friends, 
halted, while the two men in the rear ve-ry prudently took to 
their heels and escaped. One of the Indians then told Craw- 
ford to order Biggs to come up and surrender, or they would 
kill him. The colonel complied, but Biggs feeling no inclina- 
tion to obey his commander in the present instance, very coolly 
cocked his rifle, took deliberate aim at one of the Indians, and 
fired, although without effect. He and Ashley then put spurs 
to their horses, and for the time escaped. The two prisoners 
were then taken to the Indian camp, which stood within a few 
miles of the place where- they were taken; and on the next 
evening, five Delawares came in with the scalps and horses o£ 



INTRODUCTION. 21 

Biggs and Ashley, who, it appeared, had returned to the road, 
and were intercepted a few miles farther on. 

On the morning, which was the 10th of June, Crawford and 
Knight, together with nine prisoners, were conducted by their 
captors, seventeen in number, to the old town of Sandusky, 
about thirty-three miles distant. The main body halted at 
night, within eight miles of the village, but as Colonel Craw- 
ford expressed great anxiety to speak with Simon Girty, who 
was then at Sandusky, he was permitted to go on that evening, 
under the care of two Indians. On Tuesday morning, the 
11th of June, Colonel Crawford was brought back from San- 
dusky on purpose to march into town with the other prisoners. 
Knight eagerly accosted him, and asked if he had seen Girty? 
The colonel replied in the affirmative; and added that Girty 
had promised to use his utmost influence for his (the colonel's) 
safety, but was fearful of the consequences, as the Indians 
generally, and particularly Captain Pipe, one of the Delaware 
chiefs, were much incensed against the prisoners, and were 
endeavoring to have them all burned. The colonel added, that 
he had heard of his son-in-law, Colonel Harrison, and his 
nephew, William Crawford, both of whom had been taken by 
the Shawanese, and admitted to mercy. Shortly after this 
communication, their capital enemy. Captain Pipe, appeared. 
His appearance was by no means unprepossessing, and he ex- 
hibited none of the ferocity which Knight, from Girty's account, 
had been led to expect. 

On the contrary, his language was flattering and his manners 
bland. But one ominous circumstance attended his visit. 
With his own hand he painted every prisoner Hack ! While 
in the act of painting the doctor, he was as polite as a French 
valet, assuring him that he should soon go to the Shawanee 
town and see his friends; and while painting the colonel he 
told him that his head should be shaved — i. e., he should b© 



22 INTRODUCTION* 

adopted — as soon as he arrived at Wyandot town. As soon as 
the prisoners were painted, they were conducted towards the 
town, Captain Pipe walking by the side of Crawford, and treat- 
ing him with the utmost kindness, while the prisoners, with 
the exception of Dr. Knight, were pushed on ahead of him. 
As they advanced, they were shocked at observing the bodies of 
four of their friends, who had just left them, tomahawked and 
scalped, with an interval of nearly a mile between each. 
They had evidently perished in running the gauntlet. This 
spectacle was regarded as a sad presage of their own fate. In 
a short time they overtook the five prisoners who remained 
alive. They were seated on the ground, and appeared much 
dejected. Nearly seventy squaws and Indian boys surrounded 
them, menacing them with knives and tomahawks, and exhaust- 
ing upon them every abusive epithet which their language 
afforded. Crawford and Knight were compelled to sit down 
apart from the rest, and immediately afterwards the doctor was 
given to a Shawanee warrior to be conducted to their town, 
while the colonel remained stationary. 

The boys and squaws then fell upon the other prisoners and 
tomahawked them in a moment. Among them was Captain 
McKinley, who had served with reputation throughout the 
Revolutionary War until the capture of Cornwallis. An old 
squaw, approaching him and brandishing a long knife, seized 
him by the hair, instantly cut off his head and kicked it near 
the spot where Crawford sat in momentary expectation of a 
similar fate. Another destiny, however, was reserved for him. 
After having sufficiently exhausted their rage upon the lifeless 
bodies of the five prisoners, the whole party started up, and 
driving Crawford before them, marched towards the village. 

Presently, Girty appeared on horseback, coming from San- 
dusky. He stopped for a few moments, and spoke to Crawford, 
then, passing to the rear of the party, addressed Knight — "Is 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

this the doctor?" inquired he with an insulting smile. " Yes ! 
Mr. Girty, I am glad to see you !" replied poor Knight, ad- 
vancing towards him, and anxiously extending his hand. But 
Girty cursed him in a savage tone, ordered him to be gone, 

and not to suppose that he would give his hand to such a 

rascal. Upon this the Shawanee warrior who had him in cus- 
tody, dragged him along by a rope. Girty followed on horse- 
back, and informed him that he was to go to Chillicothe. 
Presently they came to a spot where there was a large fire, 
around which about thirty warriors, and more than double that 
number of squaws and boys were collected. 

As soon as the colonel arrived, they surrounded him, strip- 
ped him naked, and compelled him to sit on the ground near 
the fire. They then fell upon him and beat him severely with 
sticks and their fists. In a few minutes, a large stake was fixed 
in the ground, and piles of hickory poles, rather thicker than 
a man's thumb, and about twelve feet in length, were spread 
around it. Colonel Crawford's hands were then tied behind 
his back; a strong rope was produced, one end of which was 
fastened to the ligature between his wrists and the other tied to 
the bottom of the stake. The rope was long enough to per- 
mit him to walk around the stake several times and then return. 
Fire was then applied to the hickory poles, which lay in piles 
at the distance of six or seven yards from the stake. 

The colonel, observing these terrible preparations, called to 
Girty, who sat on horseback at the distance of a few yards from 
the fire, and asked if the Indians were going to burn him. 
Girty very coolly replied in the affirmative. The colonel 
heard the intelligence with firmness, merely observing that 
he would bear it with fortitude. When the hickory poles had 
been burnt asunder in the middle. Captain Pipe arose and 
addressed the crowd, in a tone of great energy, and with ani- 
mated gestures, pointing frequently at the colonel, who regarded 



24 INTRODUCTION. 

him with an appearance of unruffled composure. As soon as 
he had ended, a loud whoop burst from the assembled throng, 
and they all rushed at once upon the unfortunate Crawford. 
For several seconds the crowd was so great that Knight could 
not see what they were doing; but in a short time, they had 
dispersed sufficiently to give him a view of the colonel. 
• His ears had been cut off, and the blood was streaming down 
each side of his face. A terrible scene of torture now com- 
menced. The warriors shot charges of powder into his naked 
body, commencing with the calves of his legs and continuing 
to his neck. The boys snatched the burning hickory poles 
and applied them to his flesh. As fast as he ran round the 
stake, to avoid one party of tormentors, he was promptly met 
at every turn by others, with burning poles, red hot irons, and 
rifles loaded with powder onl};^; so that in a few minutes nearly 
one hundred charges of powder had been shot into his bod}'', 
which had become black and blistered in a terrible manner^ 
The squaws would take a quantity of coals and hot ashes and 
throw them upon his body, so that in a few minutes he had 
nothing but fire to walk upon. In the extremity of his agony, 
the unhappy colonel called aloud upon Girty, in tones which 
rang through Knight's brain with maddening effect — " Girty ! 
Girty ! ! Shoot me through the heart ! Quick! — Quick ! ! Do 
not refuse me ! !" " Don't you see I have no gun, colonel 1" 
replied the monster, bursting into a loud laugh, and then turn- 
ing to an Indian beside him, he uttered some brutal jests upon 
the naked and miserable appearance of the prisoner. 

The terrible scene had now lasted nearly two hours, and 
Crawford had become much exhausted. He walked slowly 
around the stake, spoke in a low tone, and earnestly besought 
God to look with compassion upon him and pardon his sins. 
His nerves had lost much of their sensibility and he no longer 
shrunk from the fire-brands with which they incessantly touched 



INTRODUCTION. 25 



him. At length he sunk in a fainting fit upoii his face and lay 
motionless. Instantly an Indian sprung upon his back, knelt 
lightly upon one knee, made a circular incision with his knife 
upon the crown of his head, and clapping the knife between 
his teeth, tore the scalp off with both hands ! Scarcely had 
this been done, when -a withered hag approached with a board 
full of burning embers, and poured them upon the crown of 
his head, now laid bare to the bone ! The colonel groaned 
deeply, arose, and again walked slowly around the stake ! ! 
Nature at length could do no more, and at a late hour of the 
night, death released him from the hand of his cruel tor- 
mentors. 

The awful torture which Crawford had undergone, made a 
deep impression upon the mind of Knight. He resolved, if 
possible, to make his escape, and this he did in a most wonder- 
I'ul manner, before reaching Shawanee town. The particulars 
of his last adventure, are omitted for want of room. Thus 
ended the lamented expedition of Colonel William Crawford; 
rashly undertaken, injudiciously prosecuted, and terminating 
with almost unprecedented calamity. 

Soon after this, a treaty was concluded with the Wyandots, 
Delawares, Chippewas and Ottawas, when the United States 
acquired the title of those tribes to all the land east, west and 
south of a line drawn from the mouth of Cuyahoga up that 
river to the Tuscarawas portage, and to the forks of the Tusca- 
rawas above Fort Lawrence; thence to Loramies, thence to 
the Maumee, and thence with that river to Lake Erie. The 
territory thus ceded, included about three-fourths of the present 
state of Ohio. In May, 1785, Congress proceeded to provide 
by ordinance for the future survey and sale of the public do- 
main in the west. The land was directed to be divided into 
townships of six miles square, by lines running north and south 
and intersected by other lines at right angles. These townships 



26 INTRODUCTION* 

were subdivided into sectionSj each containing a square mile, or 
six hundred and forty acres; and each range was to be num- 
bered from south to north, commencing on the Ohio river. 
The ranges were to be distinguished by progressive numbers 
westward, the first resting upon the western boundary of Penn- 
sylvania as a base-line. 

In 1786, a company, called the " Ohio Company^'''' was 
organized in New England, and entered into a contract with 
Congress for the purchase of a million and a half acres, lying 
on the Ohio and including the mouth of the Muskingum and 
the Hockhocking, at the price of one million of dollars. The 
members of the company were most of them officers and 
soldiers of the Revolutionary army, who proposed to seek ir 
the western wilderness, the means of retrieving their shattered 
fortunes — or at least, a home and a subsistence. The purchase 
money they intended to pay in continental certificates, with 
which many of them had been paid for their military services, 
and which were then much depreciated in value. The contract 
was executed in November, 1787. The next year, 1788, the 
first permanent settlement in Ohio was made at Marietta, at the 
mouth of the Muskingum. Congress then proceeded to form 
the first territorial government, and General Arthur St. Clair, 
a citizen of Pennsylvania, who had been a distinguished officer 
of the Revolutionary army, and enjoyed the full confidence of 
Washington, was appointed governor and commander-in-chief. 
Samuel Holden Parsons, James Mitchel Varnum and John 
Armstrong, were appointed judges; and Winthrop Sargent, 
secretary of the territory. The first acts of territorial legisla- 
tion were passed at Marietta, the only American settlement 
north-west of the Ohio. 

In October, 1788, John Cleves Symmes, in behalf of himself 
and his associates, contracted with Congress for the purchase of a 
million of acres of land adjoining the Ohio and between the Great 



INTRODUCTION. 27 

and Little Miami; but, in consequence of his failure to make due 
payments, the greater part of this tract afterwards reverted to 
Congress. Only 248,540 acres became the property of the 
contractors. Not long after the completion of his contract, 
Symmes sold the site of Cincinnati to Matthias Denman, of 
New Jersey, who entered into a contract with Colonel Patter- 
son and Mr. Filson, of Kentucky, for laying out a town. Fil- 
son, however, was killed by the Indians before he entitled 
himself to any proprietary right under the agreement, and his 
interest in the contract was transferred to Israel Ludlow. 

On the 26th of December, 1788, Patterson and Ludlow with 
a small party, arrived at the site of the projected settlement. 
In course of the winter, a town was surveyed and laid out by 
Colonel Ludlow; and the courses of the streets of the future 
city were marked on the trees of the primeval forest. The 
name first given to the place was Losantiville — a barbarous 
compound, intended to signify " a toion opposite the mouth of 
the Licking;'''^ but this name was soon after changed to Cincin- 
nati. The site selected, was extremely beautiful. Seen in the 
summer, it presented avast amphitheatre enclosed on all sides by 
hills, wooded to their summits. The Ohio — la telle riviere of 
the French- — came into the valley from the north-east, and, 
sweeping gracefully around near its southern border, departed 
to the south-west. From the south, the Licking brought its 
moderate tribute just opposite to the selected site; and a little to 
the west. Mill creek flowed silently from the inland country to 
its confluence with the Ohio. The unaccustomed luxuriance 
of tlie vegetation, and the majestic size of the forest trees, 
covered with the thickest foliage, with which the wild grape- 
vine was frequently intermingled, astonished and delighted 
the eye of the eastern emigrant. Even in winter, when the 
settlement w^as made, the scene though divested of its summer 
glories, was far from being unattractive or uninteresting. The 



28 INTRODUCTION'. 

climate, it is true, was inclement; but that very inclemency 
was a protection against savage incursions. Game of everv 
description abounded in the woods, and the waters teemed with 
fish. The emigrants, therefore, had little experience of the 
hardships usually encountered in the first settlement of a wil- 
derness. 

On the first of June, 1789, Major Doughty arrived at Cin- 
cinnati, with one hundred and forty soldiers. A lot containing 
fifteen acres, sloping from the upper bank to the river, was 
selected, on which Fort Washington was built. 

At the general pacification of 1783, between the United 
States and Great Britain, there were several stipulations upon 
both sides, which were not complied with. Great Britain had 
agreed, as speedily as possible, to evacuate all the north-western 
posts which lay within the boundaries of the United States; 
while on the other hand, Congress had stipulated that no legal 
\ mpediments should be thrown in the way, in order to prevent 
the collection of debts due to British merchants before the de- 
claration of war. Large importations had been made b}' 
American merchants, upon credit, in 1773 and 1774; and as 
civil intercourse between the two countries had ceased until 
the return of peace, the British creditors were unable to col- 
lect their dues. Upon the final ratification of the treaty, the}* 
naturally became desirous of recovering their property, while 
their debtors, as naturally, were desirous of avoiding payment. 
But when Congress recommended the payment of all debts to 
the legislatures, the legislatures determined that it was inexpe- 
dient to comply. The British creditor complained to his 
government; the government remonstrated with Congress upon 
so flagrant a breach of one of the articles of pacification; Con- 
gress appealed to the legislatures; the legislatures were deaf 
and obstinate, and there the matter rested. When the question 
was agitated as to the evacuation of the posts, the British in 



INTRODUCTION. 29 

turn became refractory, and determined to hold them until the 
acts of the legislatures, preventing the legal collection of debts, 
were repealed. In the meantime, the Indians were supplied, as 
usual, by the British agents, and if not openly encouraged, were 
undoubtedly secretly countenanced, in their repeated depreda- 
tions upon the frontier inhabitants. 

These at length became so serious as to demand the notice 
of government. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1790, General 
Harmar was detached, at the head of three hundred regular 
troops, and more than one thousand militia, with orders to 
march upon their towns bordering upon the lakes, and inflict 
upon them such signal chastisement as should deter them from 
future depredations. 

On the 20th of September, the various troops designed for 
the expedition, rendezvoused at Fort Washington, now Cincin- 
nati, and on the following day commenced their march to the 
Miami villages. The country was rough, swampy, and in many 
places almost impassable, so that seventeen days were consumed 
before the main body could come within s+riking distance of 
the enemy. In the meantime the great scarcity of provisions 
rendered it necessary for the general to sweep the forest with 
numerous small detachments, and as the woods swarmed with 
roving bands of Indians, most of these parties were cut off. 

At length, the main body, considerably reduced by this petty 
warfare, came within a few miles of their towns. Here the 
general ordered Captain Armstrong, at the head of thirty regu- 
lars, and Colonel Hardin, of Kentucky, with one hundred and 
fifty militia, to advance and r^connoiter. In the execution of 
this order, they suddenly found themselves in t'he presence of 
a superior number of Indians, who suddenly arose from the 
bushes and opened a heavy fire upon them. The militia 
instantly gave way, while the regulars, accustomed to more 

orderly movements, attempted a regular retreat. The enemy 
3* 



30 INTRODUCTION. 

rushed upon them, tomahawk in hand, and completely sur- 
rounded them. The regulars attempted to open a passage with 
the bayonet, but in vain. They were all destroyed, with the 
exception of their captain and one lieutenant. 

Captain Armstrong was remarkably stout and active, and 
succeeded in breaking through the enemy's line, although not 
without receiving several severe wounds. Finding himself 
hard pressed, he plunged into a deep and miry swamp, where 
he lay concealed during the whole night within two hundred 
yards of the Indian camp, and witnessed the dances and joyous 
festivity with which they celebrated their victory. The lieu- 
tenant (Hartshorn) escaped by accidentally stumbling over a 
log and falling into a pit, where he lay concealed by the rank 
grass which grew around him. The loss of the militia was very 
trifling. Notwithstanding this severe check, Harmar advanced 
with the main body upon their villages, which he found deserted 
and in flames, the Indians having fired them with their own hands. 

Here he found several hundred acres of corn, which was 
completely destroyed. He then advanced upon the adjoining 
villages, which he found deserted and burned, as the first had 
been. Having destroyed all the corn which he found, the 
^rmy commenced its retreat from the Indian country, supposing 
the enemy sufficiently intimidated. 

After marching about ten miles on the homeward route, 
General Harmar received information which induced him to 
suppose that a body of Indians had returned and taken posses- 
sion of the village which he had just left. He detached, 
therefore, eighty regular troops, under the orders of Major 
Wyllys, and nearly the whole of his militia, under Colonel 
Hardin, with orders to return to the village and destroy such 
of the enemy as presented themselves. The detachment 
accordingly countermarched, and proceeded with all possible 
dispatch to the appointed spot, fearful only that the enemy 



INTRODUCTION. 31 

might hear of their movements and escape before they could 
come up. The militia, in loose order, took the advance; the 
regulars, moving in a hollow square, brought up the rear. 
Upon the plain in front of the town a number of Indians were 
seen, between whom and the militia, a sharp action commenced- 
After a few rounds, with considerable effect upon both sides, 
the savages fled in disorder, and were eagerly and impetuously 
pursued by the militia, who, in the ardor of the chase, were 
drawn into the woods to a considerable distance from the 
regulars. 

Suddenly, from the opposite quarter, several hundred Indians 
appeared, rushing with loud yells, upon the unsupported regu- 
lars. Major Wyllys, who was a brave and experienced officer, 
formed his men in a square, and endeavored to gain a more 
favorable spot of ground, but was prevented by the desperate 
impetuosity with which the enemy assailed him. Unchecked 
by the murderous fire which was poured upon them from the 
different sides of the square, they rushed in masses up to the 
points of the bayonets, hurled their tomahawks with fatal 
accuracy, and putting aside the bayonets with their hands, or 
clogging them with their bodies,' they were quickly mingled 
with the troops, and handled their long knives with destructive 
effect. In two minutes, the bloody struggle was over. Major 
Wyllys fell, together with seventy-three privates, and one 
lieutenant. One captain, one ensign, and seven privates, three 
of whom were wounded, were the sole survivors of this short, 
but desperate encounter. 

The Indian loss was nearly equal, as they sustained several 
heavy fires, which the closeness of their masses rendered very 
destructive, and as they rushed upon the bayonets of the troop« 
with the most astonishing disregard to their own safety. Their 
object was to overwhelm the regulars, before the militia could 
return to their support, and it was as boldly executed as it had 



32 INTRODUCTION. 

been finely conceived. In a short time, the militia returned 
from the pursuit of the flying party, which had decoyed them 
to a distance — ^but it was now too late to retrieve the fortune of 
the day. After some short skirmishing, they effected their 
retreat to the main body, with the loss of one hundred and 
eight killed, and twenty-eight wounded. This dreadful 
slaughter, so reduced the strength and spirits of Harmar's army 
that he was happy in being permitted to retreat unmolested to 
Fort Washington, having totally failed in accomplishing the 
objects of the expedition. 

The failure of Harmar made a deep impression upon tlie 
American nation, and was followed by a loud demand for a 
greater force, under the command of a more experienced 
general. Arthur St. Clair was at that time governor of 
the North-western Territory, and had a claim to the command 
of such forces as should be employed within his own limits. 
This gentleman had uniformly ranked high as an officer of 
courage and patriotism, but had been more uniformly unsuc- 
cessful and unfortunate, than any other officer in the American 
Revolution. He had commanded at Ticonderoga in the spring 
of 1777, and had conducted one of the most disastrous retreats 
which occurred during the war. Notwithstanding his repeated 
misfortunes, he still commanded the respect of his brother offi-. 
cers and the undiminished confidence of Washington. He 
was now selected as the person most capable of restoring the 
American affairs in the north-west, and was placed at the head 
of a regular force, amounting to near fifteen hundred men, 
well furnished with artillery, and was empowered to call out 
such reinforcements of militia as might be necessary. Oincin-- 
nati, as usual, was the place of rendezvous. 

In October, 1781, an army was assembled at that place, 
greatly superior in numbers, officers, and equipments, to any 
which had yet appeared in the west. The regular force was 



INTRODUCTION. 33 

composed of three complete regiments of infantry, two com- 
panies of artillery, and one of cavalry. • The militia who 
joined him at Fort Washington, amounted to upwards of six 
hundred men, most of whom had long been accustomed to 
Indian warfare. The general commenced his march from 
Cincinnati in October, and following the route of Harmar, 
arrived at Fort Jefferson without material loss. Shortly 
after leaving Fort Jefferson, one of the militia regiments, with 
their usual disregard to discipline, determined that it was inex- 
pedient to proceed farther, and detaching themselves from the 
main body, returned rapidly to the fort, on their way home. 
This ill-timed mutiny, not only discouraged. the remainder, but 
compelled the commander to detach the first regiment in pur- 
suit of them, if not to bring them back, at least to prevent them 
from injuring the stores collected for the use of the army at the 
fort. With the remainder of the troops, amounting in all to 
about twelve hundred men, he continued his march to the Great 
Miami villages. 

On the evening of the 3d of November, he encamped upon 
a very commanding piece of ground, upon the bank of one of 
the tributaries of the Wabash, where he determined to throw 
up some slight works for the purpose of protecting their knap- 
sacks and baggage, having to move upon the Miami villages, 
supposed to be within twelve miles, as soon as the first regi- 
ment should rejoin them. The remainder of the evening was 
employed in concerting the plan of the proposed work with 
Major Ferguson, of the engineers; and when the sentries 
were posted at night, every thing was as quiet as could have 
been desired. The troops were encamped in two lines, with 
an interval of seventy yards between them, which was all that 
the nature of the ground would permit. The battalions of 
Majors Butler, Clarke, and Patterson, composed the front line, 
the whole under the orders of Major General Butler^ an officer 



34 INTRODUCTION. 

o-f high and merited reputation. The front of the line was cov- 
ered by a creek, its right flank by the river, and its left by a 
strong corps of infantry. 

The second line was composed of the battalions of Majors 
Gaither and Bedinger, and the second regiment under the 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Darke. This line, like the 
other, was secured upon one flank by the river, and upon the 
other by the cavalry and pickets. The night passed away 
without alarm. The sentinels were vigilant, and the officers 
upon the alert. 

A few hours before day, St. Clair caused the reveille to be 
beaten, and the troops to be paraded under arms, under the 
expectation that an attack would probably be made. In this 
situation they continued until day-light, when they were dis- 
missed to their tents. Some were endeavoring to snatch a few 
minutes' sleep, others were preparing for the expected march, 
v/hen suddenly the report of a rifle was heard from the militia 
a few hundred yards in front, which was quickly followed by a 
sharp, irregular volley in the same direction. 

The drums instantly beat to arms, the officers flew in every 
direction, and in two minutes the troops were formed in order 
of battle. Presently the militia rushed into camp in the utmost 
disorder, closely pursued by swarms of Indians, who in many 
places were mingled with them and were cutting them down 
with their tomahawks. 

Major Butler's battalion received the first shock, and was 
throw^n into disorder by the tumultuous flight of the militia, 
who, in their eagerness to escape, bore down every thing befoi^ 
them. Here Major General Butler had stationed himself, and 
here St. Clair directed his attention, in order to remedy tlte 
confusion which began to spread rapidly through the whole 
line. The Indians pressed forward with great audacity, and 
many of them were mingled with the troops before their pro- 



INTRODUCTION. 35 

gi'ess could be checked. Major General Butler was wounded 
at the first fire, and before his wound could be dressed, an 
Indian, who had penetrated the ranks of the regiment, ran up 
to the spot where he lay, and tomahawked him before his 
attendants could interpose. The desperate savage was instantly 
killed. By great exertions, Butler's battalion was restored to 
order, and the heavy and sustained fire of the first line, com- 
pelled the enemy to pause and shelter themselves. 

This interval, however, endured but for a moment. An 
invisible, but tremendous fire quickly opened upon the whole 
front of the encampment, which rapidly extended to the rear, 
and encompassed the troops on both sides. St. Clair, who at 
that time was worn down by a fever, and unable to mount his 
horse, nevertheless, as is universally admitted, exerted himself 
with a courage and presence of mind worthy of a better fate. 
He instantly directed his litter to the right of the rear line, 
where the great weight of fire fell, and where the slaughter, 
particularly of the ofliicers, was terrible. Here Darke com- 
manded, an officer who had been trained to hard service during 
the Revolutionary War, and who was now gallantly exerting 
himself to check the consternation which was evidently be- 
ginning to prevail. St Clair ordered him to make a rapid 
charge with the bayonet, and rouse the onemy from their 
covert. 

The order was instantly obeyed, and at first, apparently with 
great effect. Swarms of dusky bodies arose from the high 
grass, and fled before the regiment with every mark of conster- 
nation. But as the troops were unable to overtake them, they 
quickly recovered their courage, and kept up so fatal a retreating 
fire that the exhausted regulars were compelled, in their turn, 
to give way. This charge, however, relieved that particular 
point, for some time; but the weight of the fire was transferred 
to the centre of the first line, where it threatened to annihilate 



36 INTRODUCTION. 

every thing within its range. There, in turn, the unfortunate 
general was borne by his attendants, and ordered a second ap- 
])eal to the bayonet. This second charge was made with the 
same impetuosity as at first, and with the same momentary suc- 
cess. But the attack was instantly shifted to another point, 
where the same charge was made, and the same result followed. 
The Indians would retire before them, still keeping up the 
most fatal fire, and the continentals were uniformly compelled 
to retire in turn. St. Clair brouglit up the artillery in order 
to sweep the bushes with grape, but the horses and artillery- 
men were destroyed by the terrible fire of the enemy, before 
any effect could be produced. They were instantly manned 
afresh from the infantry, and again swept of defenders. 

The slaughter had now become prodigious. Four-fifths of 
the officers and one-half of the men were either killed or 
wounded. The ground was covered with bodies, and the little 
ravine which led to the river, was running with blood. The 
fire of the enemy had not in the least slackened, and the troops 
were falling in heaps before it, in every part of the camp. 
To have attempted to maintain his position longer, could 
only have led to the total destruction of ]iis force, without the 
possibility of annojdng the enemy, m^Iio never showed them- 
selves, unless when charged, and whose numbers (to judge 
from the weight and extent of the fire) must have equaled, if 
not exceeded his own. The men were evidently much dis- 
heartened, but the officers, who were chiefly veterans of the 
Revolution, still maintained a firm countenance, and exerted 
themselves with unavailing heroism to the Jast. Under these 
circumstances, St. Clair determined to save the lives of the 
survivors, if possible, and for that purpose collected the rem- 
nants of several battalions into one corps, at the head of whicli 
he ordered Lieutenant Colonel Darke to make an impetuousi 
charge upon the enemy, in order to open a passage for the 



INTRODUCTION. 37 

remainder of the army. Darke executed his orders with great 
spirit, and drove the Indians before him, to the distance of a 
quarter of a mile. The remainder of the army instantly rusli- 
ed through the opening, in order to gain tlie road ! Major 
Clarlie, with the remnant of his battalion, bringing up the rear, 
and endeavoring to keep the Indians in check. General St. 
Clair's horses were killed, as well as those of his aids. He 
was placed, by a fev/ friends, upon an exhausted pack-horse 
that could not be urged out of a walk, and in this condition fol- 
lowed in the rear of his troops. 

The retreat soon degenerated into a total rout, OfEcers who 
strove to arrest the panic, only sacrificed themselves. Clarke, 
the leader of the rear guard, soon fell in this dangerous ser- 
vice, and his corps were totally disorganized. Officers and 
soldiers were now mingled vv^ithout the slightest regard to dis- 
cipline, and "devil take the hindmost," was the order of the 
day. The pursuit, at first, v/as keen, but the temptation afford- 
ed by the plunder of the camp, soon brought them back, and 
the wearied, vi^ounded, and disheartened fugitives, vv'ere per- 
mitted to retire from the fieid unmolested. The rout continu- 
ed as far as Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles from the scene of 
action. The action _ lasted more than three hours, during the 
whole of which time, the fire was heavy and incessant. 

The loss, in proportion to the number engaged, was enor- 
mous, and is unparalleled, except in the affair of Braddock.— 
Sixty-eight officers were killed upon the spot, and twenty-eight 
wounded. Out of nine hundred privates, v/ho went into the 
action, five hundred and fifty were killed, and many were woun- 
ded. General St. Clair was untouched, although eight balls 
passed through his hat and clothes, and several horses were kill- 
ed under him. The Indian loss was reported by themselves at 
fifty-eight killed and wounded, which was probably not under- 
rated, as they were never visible after the first attack, until 
4 



S8 INTRODUCTION. 

charged with the bayonet. At Fort Jefferson, the fugitives 
were joined by the first regiment, who, as noticed before, had 
been detached in pursuit of the deserters. Here a council of 
war was called, which terminated in the unanimous opinion, 
that the junction with .the first regiment did not justify an at- 
tempt upon the enemy in the present condition of affairs, and 
that the army should return to Fort Washington without delay. 
This was done ; and thus ended the second campaign against 
the Indians. 

There was an interval of more than a year between the de- 
feat of St. Clair, and the appointment of his successor. The 
choice fell upon General Wayne of Pennsylvania, and he lost 
no time in proceeding to the head-quarters of the western ar- 
my, and arrived at Fort Washington in the spring of 1793. — 
Reinforcements of regular troops were constantly arriving, and 
in addition to the usual complement of cavalry and artillery, ti 
strong legionary corps was raised upon continental establish- 
ment, and placed under his command. In addition to this, he 
was authorized to call upon the governor of Kentucky, (Shel- 
by,) for as many mounted militia as might be necessary. It 
was so late in the season, however, before all the various for- 
ces could be collected, and all the necessary supplies procured, 
that he judged it prudent to defer any offensive movement un- 
til the spring. 

The mounted volunteers were accordingly dismissed, with 
some flattering encomiums upon their zeal and readiness, while 
the regular forces were placed in winter quarters. During the 
winter, Wayne remained at a fort which he had built upon a 
western fork of the Little Miami, and to which he had given 
the name of Greenville. By detachments from the regular 
troops, he was enabled to sweep the country lying between him 
and the Miami villages, and having taken possession of the 
ground upon which St. Clair was defeated, he erected a small 



INTRODUCTION. 



fort upon it, which he called "Recovery." His orders were 
positive, to endeavor if possible, to procure peace upon reason- 
able terms, without resorting to force, and he accordingly open- 
ed several conferences with the hostile tribes, during the win- 
ter. Many of their chiefs visited him in his camp, and exam- 
ined his troops, artillery and equipments with great attention, 
and from time to time made ample professions of a disposition 
to bury the hatchet ; but nothing definite could be drawn from 
them, and from the known partiality of Wayne to the decision 
of the sword, could it be supposed that he pressed the overtures 
with much eagerness. As the spring approached, the visits of 
the Indians became more rare, and their professions of friend- 
ship waxed fainter. In February, they threw aside the mask 
at once, and made a bold effort to carry the distant out-post at 
Fort Recovery, by a coup-de-main. In this, however, they 
were frustrated by the vigilance and energy of the garrison ; 
and finding that Wayne was neither to be surprised nor deceiv- 
ed, they employed themselves in collecting their utmost strength 
with a determination to abide the brunt of battle. 

In the spring, the general called upon the governor of Ken- 
tucky for a detachment of mounted men, who repaired with 
great alacrity, to his standard, in two brigades, under Todd and 
Barbee, the whole commanded by Major General Scott, amount- 
ing to more than fifteen hundred men, accustomed to Indian 
warfare. The regular force, including cavalry and artillery, 
amounted to about two thousand, so that the general found him- 
self at the head of three thousand men, well provided with ev- 
ery thing, in high spirits, and eager for battle. The Indian 
force did not exceed two thousand, and was known to have as- 
sembled in the neighborhood of the British fort at the rapids of 
the Miami. 

It was late in July, before Wayne was ready to march from 
Greenville, and from the nature of the country, as well as the 



40 INTRODUCTION. 

necessity of guarding against surprise, his progress was very 
leisurely. He continued his march, however, in Order of battle 
until he arrived within view of the enemy. The regular force 
formed the centre column, one brigade of mounted volunteers 
moved upon the left under General Barbee, the other brought up 
the rear under Brigadier Todd. The right flank was covered 
by the river, and Major Price, with a select corps of mounted 
volunteers, was advanced about five miles in front, with orders 
to feel the enemy's position, and then fall back upon the main 
body. About noon, the advanced corps received so heavy a 
fire from a concealed enemy as to compel it to retire v/ith 
precipitation. The heads of the columns soon reached the 
hostile ground and had a view of the enem}^ The ground for 
miles was covered with a thick grov/th of timber ; which ren- 
dered the operation of cavalry extremely difficult. The In- 
dians occupied a thick v/ood in front, where an immense num- 
ber of trees had been blown down by a hurricane, the branches 
of which Vv'^ere interlocked in such a manner as greatly to im- 
pede the exertions of the regulars. 

The enemy were formed in three parallel lines, at right 
angles to the river, and displayed a front of more than two 
miles. Wayne rode forward to reconnoiter their positions, and 
perceiving from the weight and extent of the fire that they wei-e 
in full force, he instantly made dispositions for the attack. 
The whole of the mounted volunteers were ordered to make 
a circuit, for the purpose of turning the right fiank of the Indi- 
ans ; the cavalry v/ere ordered to move up under cover of tlie 
river bank, and if possible, turn their left; while the regular 
infantry were formed in a thick wood in front of the " fallen 
timber," with orders, as soon as the signal was given, to rush 
forward at full speed without firing a shot, arousing the enemy 
from their covert at the point of the bayonet, and tJieii to deliver 
a close fire upon their backs, pressing them so closely as not 



INTRODUCTION. 41 

to permit them to re-load their guns. All these orders were 
executed with precision. The mounted volunteers moved off 
rapidly to occupy the designated ground, while the first line of 
infantry was formed under the eye of the commander, for the 
perilous charge in front. 

As soon as time had been given for the arrival of the several 
corps upon their respective points, the order was given to ad- 
vance, and the infantry, rushing through a tremendous fire of 
rifles and overleaping every impediment, hastened to close with 
their concealed enemy and maintain the struggle on equal terms. 
Although their loss in this desperate charge was by no means 
inconsiderable, yet the effect was decisive. The enemy rose 
and fled before them more than two miles with considerable 
loss, as, owing to the orders of Wayne, they were nearly as 
much exposed as the regulars. Such was the rapidity of the 
advance and the precipitation of the retreat, that only a small 
part of the volunteers could get up in time to share in the action, 
although there can be no question that their presence and 
threatening movement contributed equally with the impetuous 
charge of the infantry, to the success of the day. 

The broken remains of the Indian army were pursued un- 
der the guns of the British fort, and so keen was the ardor of 
Wayne's men, and so strong their resentment against the En- 
glish, that it was with the utmost difficulty they could be res- 
trained from storming the fort upon the spot. 

The Indian force being thus completely dispersed, their corn- 
fields cut up, and their houses burned, Wayne drew off his for- 
ces from the neighborhood of the British post, and in order to 
hold the Indians permanently in check, he erected a fort at the 
junction of the Auglaize and Miami in the very heart of the 
Indian country, to which he gave the very appropiate name of 
Defiance. As this was connected with Fort Washington by 
various intermediate fortifications it could not fail completely 



43 INTRODUCTION. 

to overawe the enemy, who in a very short time, urgently and 
unanimously demanded peace. 

Accordingly, on the 3d of August, 1795, a grand council was 
held at Greenville, where eleven of the most powerful tribes of 
the north-west were represented, to whom General Wayne dic- 
tated the terms of peace. The treaty thus negotiated, stipula- 
ted for the mutual release of prisoners. The boundary estab- 
lished at Fort Mcintosh was confirmed and extended westward 
from Loramies to Fort Recovery, and thence south-west to the 
mouth of the Kentucky river. All the territory eastward and 
southward of the line thus established, was ceded to the United 
States ; and the Indians solemnly pledged themselves, never 
again to make those lands or any part of them, a cause or pre- 
tense of war or injury to the American people. Upon these 
conditions, the United States received the Indian nations into 
their protection, and relinquished all claim to lands, not included 
within the treaty bound ar3^ 

A large quantity of goods was likewise delivered on the 
spot, and perpetual annuities, payable in merchandize or in do- 
mestic animals, implements of husbandry, or other convenient 
utensils at the pleasure of the receivers, were promised to each 
tribe which became a party to the treaty. This treaty was the 
foundation of a permanent peace. It was the act of all the 
tribes who had any claims to the territory of the Wabash, and 
the observance of its conditions was secured by the expec- 
tation of solid benefits as the rewards of good faith ; and by 
the dread of severe retribution as the consequence of infraction. 
Its effect upon the improvement and prosperity of the west was 
immense. Confidence in the ability and disposition of the 
government to protect the western settlers was universally re- 
stored, and the emigrant no longer had the fear of the toma- 
hawk and the scalping knife, of the midnight conflagration and 
the noon day ambush, before his eyes, when he undertook the 



INTRODUCTION. 43 

conquest of the wilderness. No combination of tribes nor any 
single tribe again lifted the tomahawk against the United States 
until just before the breaking out of the war with Great Britain. 
During this long interim several important events transpired. 
In the year 1796, settlements were made on the southern shore 
of Lake Erie, at Cleveland and at Conneaut by settlers from 
New England. The intermediate coufitries between these 
settlements of the north and those of the south, was gradually 
filled up by subsequent emigration of settlers from different 
quarters of the United States, by their natural increase, and by 
immigrants from various parts of Europe. From Marietta, 
settlers spread into the adjoining country. The Virginia 
Military reservation drew considerable numbers of Revolution- 
ary veterans and others from that state. The region between 
the Miamies, from the Ohio far up towards the sources of Mad 
river, became checkered with farms, and abounded in indica- 
tions of the presence of an active and prosperous population. 
In 1796, Wayne county was established, including all the 
north-western part of Ohio, a large tract in the north-eastern 
part of Indiana, and the whole territory of Michigan. Before 
the end of the year 1798, the North- Western Territory contained 
a population of 5000 inhabitants, and eight organized counties. 
In September, 1799, the first (territorial) legislature, under 
the ordinance of Congress, of the 13th of July 1786, for the 
governmiCnt of the territory of the United States, north-west of 
the Ohio river, convened at Cincinnati. During that session 
which was appointed for the 16th of September, 1799, but did 
not open until the 24th, General William Henry Harrison, was 
elected delegate to Congress, and forty-eight acts were passed 
by both houses, thirty-seven of which were approved by Gov- 
ernor St. Clair, and eleven were returned by him without 
signing. The eleven acts vetoed, were principally relating to 
the erection of new counties and fixing of county-seats ; these 



44 INTRODUCTIOIf. 

being matters over which he claimed exclusive jurisdiction. 
The session closed in December following. 

In 1801, the state of Connecticut relinquished her claim of 
jurisdiction over the Connecticut Western Reserve, and re- 
ceived a title in fee, of the soil, from the United States. The 
territory was thereupon erected into a county called Trumbull, 
and the courts of the territory established therein. By an act 
of Congress of the same year, the territory north-west of the 
Ohio was divided by a line drawn from the mouth of the Ken- 
tucky to Fort Recovery, and thence northward to the territo- 
rial line ; and Chillicothe was established as the seat of govern- 
ment of the eastern division, now Ohio. The second session 
of the territorial legislature was therefore held at Chillicothe. 
On the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed an act authorizing 
tlie call of a convention to form a state constitution, for that 
part of the then North-Western Territory, lying between 
Lake Erie and the Ohio river ; and east of a meridian drawn 
due north from the mouth of the great Miami river, and exten- 
ding easterly to Pennsylvania. On the first of November fol- 
lowing, pursuant thereto, the convention met at Chillicothe and 
formed our present state constitution. 

The formation of the constitution was the work of little 
more than three weeks. On the 27th of November, it was or- 
dered to be engrossed for a third reading, and on the 29th, was 
ratified and signed by the members of the convention. It was 
never referred to the people for their approbation, but became 
the fundamental law of the state by the act of the convention 
^lone. Besides forming the constitution, the convention had 
another duty to perform. The act of Congress providing for 
the admission of the new state into the Union, offered certain 
propositions to the people. These were, firsty that section 
sixteen, in each township, or where that section had been dis- 
posed ofj other contiguous and equivalent lands should be gran- 



INTRODUCTION. 45 

teJ to the inhabitants for the use of schools ; second^ that thirty- 
eight sections of land v/here salt springs had been found, of 
which one toY/nship wa3 nituated on the Scicto, one section on 
the Muskingum, and one section in the United States Military 
tract, should be granted to the state, never however, to be sold 
or leased for a longer terra than ton years ; and tJdi'd, that 
one-twentieth of the proceeds of public lands, sold within tho 
state, should be applied to the construction of roads from the 
Atlantic, to and through the same. These propositions were 
offered, on the condition that the convention should provide by 
ordinance, that all lands sold by the United States after the 
thirtieth day of June, 1802, should be ezieinpt from taxation by 
the state for five years after the sale. 

The ordinance of 1785, had already provided for tliQ appro- 
priation of section sixteen to the support of schools in every 
township sold by the United Gtates, and the appropriation thus 
became a condition of the sale and settlement of the v/estern 
country. It was a condition cITerod to induce purchases of 
public lands, at a time when the treasury was well nigh empty; 
and this source of revenue was much relied upon. It extended 
to every township of land v/ithin the territory, except those in 
the Virginia Military reservation ; and wherever the reserved 
section had been disposed of, after the passage of the ordinance 
Congress v/as bound to make other equivalent provisions for 
the same object. The reservation of section sixteen, therefore, 
could not in 1802, be properly made the object of a new bar- 
gain between the United States and the state ; and many 
thought that the salt reservations and the twentieth of the pro- 
ceeds of the public lands, were very inadequate equivalents for 
the proposed surrender of the right to tax. The convention 
however determined to accept the propositions of Congress, on 
their being so far modified and enlarged, as to vest in the state 
for the use of schools, section sixteen in each township sold by 



46 INTRODUCTION. 

tlie United States, and three other tracts of land, equal in quan- 
tity, respectively, to one thirty-sixth of the Virginia reserva- 
tion, of the United States Military tract, and of the Connecticut 
Reserve, and to give three per centum of the proceeds of tl^ 
public lands sold within the state, to be applied under the di- 
rection of the legislature, to roads in Ohio. Congress assented 
to the proposed modification and thus completed the compact. 

Ohio was now a state and a member of the Federal Union. 
Tlie constitution which was first adopted, has never since been 
altered in any respect. It makes the usual distribution of 
governmental power into three great departments ; legislative, 
judicial and executive. The executive power is vested in a 
governor, elected biennially by the people. \_See Appendix.'] 
His authority is very limited. The veto power, that anomaly in 
a republican government, is not recognized in the constiution 
of Ohio. It is the duty of the governor to communicate such 
information and recommend such measures to the legislature 
as he may think expedient ; on extraordinary occasions he may 
convene the general assembly ; and in case of disagreement 
between the two houses, as to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them ; but with the business of legislation, he has 
nothing to do. He is commander-in-chief of the army and 
navy of the state, except in case of impeachment ; he may 
grant reprieves and pardons ; all commissions are to be made 
out by him under the great seal ; and he may fill vacancies 
which occur during the recess of the general assembly, in of- 
fices of legislative appointment, by granting commissions, which 
shall expire at the end of the next session. 

On the 1st day of March, 1803, the general assembly con- 
vened at Chillicothe. Their first care, of course was, to adapt 
the state laws of the territory to the new state of things intro- 
duced by the constitution. With this view, several laws were 
passed. The state courts were organized, their jurisdiction 



INTRODUCTION. 47 

defined and their practice in some degree, regulated. Judges 
o£ the new courts were appointed agreeably to the constitution, 
and the courts of the territory^ the general court, the circuit 
courts, the courts of common pleas and the courts of general 
quarter sessions, were all abolished. Most of the powers ex- 
ercised by the courts of quarter sessions, formerly, in establish- 
ing highways, erecting public buildings, granting licenses, &c., 
were transfered to the associate judges of the court of common 
pleas. 

Provision was made for the election of justices, and for the 
transfer to them of the unfinished business of the territorial 
magistrates. The tax laws of the territory were slightly modi- 
fied and continued in force. A secretary, an auditor and a 
treasurer of state were appointed, and appropriate functions 
assigned to each. In addition to his other duties, the latter offi- 
cer was charged with the receipt of the three per cent, of the 
proceeds of the public lands to be paid by the United States 
agreeably to the compact. Laws were passed for leasing the 
school lands and salt reservations. Senators were elected to 
the national Congress and provision was made by law for the 
election of representatives. 

While this legislature was in session, the treaty for the pur- 
diase of Louisiana was concluded with France. This acquisi- 
tion was of immense importance to the western country, it 
secured the free navigation of the Mississippi, at that time the 
only outlet for western produce, and put an end to the vexatious 
impositions and restrictions, to which the American trader had 
been subjected at New Orleans, by the Spanish authorities. In 
December, 1803, the second general assembly convened agree- 
ably to the provisions of the constitution. Further alterations 
and improvements were introduced into the statutes. The 
militia laws on that subject, were all repealed. To encourage 
immigration, a law was passed at this session^ and has ever 



46 INTRODUCTION. 

since remained in force, to enable nliens to acquire and hold 
land within the state. ProvisIonG were also made for the ap- 
propriation of the three per cent, fund, to the construction and 
improvement of roadrj. The plan vvas to divide the fund into 
small sums, to be spplied in diiierent parts of the state, under 
the direction of road commicsioners, and this plan has ever 
since fceen persisted in. 

At the session of 1808-4, also, the revenue syctem of the state 
was simplified and impro\ ed. The main reliance for revenue 
continued to be upon Isnids. The burden of this tax was borne, 
in a great measure, by non-re&idents who had no other prop- 
erty of any kind in the state. The collectors of the tax 
were veqaired to pay tvv'o-thirds of the proceeds into the state 
trea'm'y, and one-thitd iuto the several county treasuries. The 
administration of jusiice was improved by the enactment of 
laws, deTiningthe duties and authorities of justices and constables 
and regulating the common law and chancery practice of the 
courts. 

At the session of 1809-10, the laws were a second time re- 
vised. 

The Indians, who since the treaty of Greenville, had re- 
mained quiet, now began to commit aggressions upon the in- 
habitants of the west. The celebrated Tecum.seh, aided and 
encourdged by British influence, was conspicuously active, in 
his elToris to unite the native tribes against the Americans and 
to arrest the farther extension of the settlements. His procee- 
dings and those of his bi'other, " The ProjjJict,'^ soon made it 
evident that the west was about io experience the calamities of 
another Indian war, and it was resolved to anticipate the move- 
ments of the savages. In 1811, General Vvilliam Henry Har- 
rison, then governor of Indiana territory, marched against the 
town of " the Prophet," upon the Wabash. On the 6th of No- 
vember, he arrived at Tippecanoe, their principal town, where 



INTRODUCTION. 49 

he was met by Indian messengers, with whom an agreement 
was made, that hostilities should not take place until the next 
morning, and that then an amicable conference should be held. 
Just before day-break, the savages, in violation of their engage- 
ment, made a sudden and furious attack upon the troops in 
their encampment. Nothing but the precaution of sleeping 
in order of battle, on their arms, saved them from total defeat. 

A dreadful slaughter was made, but the savages were finally 
repulsed, dispersed, and their town laid waste. In the same 
year, occurred an event of more monientous consequence to 
the west, than the issues of a thousand battles. This was the 
voyage, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, of the first steam boat 
ever launched upon the western waters. 

In June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great 
Britain. Of this war, the west was a principal theatre. Defeat, 
disaster, and disgrace marked its opening scenes ; but the latter 
events of the contest were a series of splendid achievements. 

Colonel Crogban's gallant and successful defense of Fort 
Stephenson, was among the most brilliant. He was in the 22d 
year of his age, when left by General Harrison, in command 
of 160 m.en, and v/ith one six-pounder at Fort Stephenson. On 
the evening of the first of August, the British and Indians, who 
had come up the Sandusky river, from the bay, commenced 
from their boats a heavy cannonading upon the fort, and threw 
in a great number of shells from their batteries. They contin- 
ued their operations without success, until the evening of the 
second, when, after throwing a great number of balls from a 
six-pounder, at the north-west angle of the fort, for the purpose 
of making a breach, a column under the command of Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Short, advanced to the point on which the artillery 
had been played, with the intention of storming, but the judi- 
cious management of Colonel Croghan, foiled the enemy .in 

his attempt. The ditch which surrounded the works, was 
5 



50 INTRODUCTION. 

about eight feet wide, and of equal depth. This the enemy had to 
enter before they could approach the pickets, which had a bayo- 
net driven through the top of each, in a horizontal direction. 
While in this situation, a six-pounder which was masked in a 
block-house, poured upon them a tremendous shower of musket 
balls, which did terrible execution. This so confounded the 
assailants, that Lieutenant Colonel Short, who had previously 
ordered his men to scale the pickets and show the d — d Yankee 
rascals no quarters, now exhibited a white handkerchief as a 
signal of distress, evincing a disposition to have quarters shown 
him, after he had proclaimed that the garrison should be mur- 
dered. It was, however, too late ; the next discharge proved fa- 
tal ; he fell, and Lieutenant Gordon, of the 29th regiment, died 
by his side. This was near two hours before sunset. The 
firing from the block/'house, was principally directed at the ene- 
my, who had taken refuge in the direction of the ravine, 
the slaughter there was immense, and General Proctor, who 
commanded in person, ordered the allied armies to retreat to 
their boats. The greater part of the night, was occupied in 
carrying off the dead and wounded ; and from the number of 
trails, it was evident, that no less then fifty of the dead were 
dragged away. About thirty killed, including the two officers 
just mentioned, were left in the ditch and ravine, and thirty 
prisoners, eighteen severely wounded, which General Proctor 
in his hurry, left behind, were afterwards brought into the fort. 
Major Croghan had but one man killed, and seven slightly woun- 
ded. The brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, was conferred by 
the President of the United States, upon Major Croghan, and 
the ladies of Chillicothe, presented him with a sword, and a 
flattering address. 

Croghan's gallant defense of Fort;Stephenson, Perry's vic- 
tory upon Lake Erie, the total defeat, by Harrison, of the allied 
British and savages, under Proctor and Tecumseh, on the 



INTRODUCTION. 51 

Thames, and the great closing triumph of Jackson at New Or- 
leans — all reflected the most brilliant lustre upon the Ameri- 
can arms. In every vicissitude of this contest, the conduct oi 
Ohio, was eminently patriotic and honorable. Her sons volun- 
teered with alacrity their services in the field ; and no troops 
more patiently endured hardships, or performed better service. 
Hardly a battle was fought on the western frontier, in which 
some of these brave citizen soldiers, did not seal their devotion 
to their country with their blood. 

In 1816, the seat of the state government was removed to 
Columbus, and the year following, the first white settler located 
himself within the present limits of this county. 



HISTORY OF SEIECA COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 

Aborigines — War between the Wyandots and Senecas — Naval fight — Tb« 
Wyandots settle upon the Sandusky — Treaty with the Indians — Grant 
of land to the Senecas — Seneca Indians — Their removal to the west — 
An execution for witch-craft. 

The country, watered by the Sandusky and its tributaries, 
was originally inhabited by a powerful and war-like tribe of In- 
dians, known as the Wyandot or Huron tribe. 

According to a tradition of this nation, their home was once, 
on the north side of the river St. Lawrence, down to Coon lake, 
and from thence, up the Utiwas. Their name for it, was Cu- 
rione-tat-tia. The Senecas, who were blood relations of the 
Wyandots, owned the opposite side of the river, and the island 
on which Montreal now stands. They were both large tribes, 
consisting of many thousands. 

A war originated between the two tribes, in this way: A 
man of the Wyandots wanted a certain woman for his wife ; 
but she objected and said he was no warrior ; he had never ta- 
ken any scalps. To accomplish his object, he raised a small 
war-party, and in their scout, fell upon a party of the Seneca 
hunters and killed and scalped a number of them. This caused a 
war between the nations, that lasted more than a century, which 
they supposed was fully a hundred winters, before the French 

came to Quebec 
5* 



54 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 



They say they were the first instigators in the war, and were 
generally beaten in the contest. Both tribes became greatly 
wasted in the conflict. They often made peace ; but the first 
opportunity the Senecas could get an advantage against them, 
they would destroy all they could, men, women, and children. 

The Wyandots, finding they were in danger of being exter- 
minated, concluded to leave their country and go far to the 
west. With their canoes, the whole nation made their escape 
to the upper lakes, and settled in the vicinity of Green bay, 
in several villages ; but after a few years, the Senecas made 
up a war-party, and followed them to their new settlements, fell 
on one of their villages, killed a number, and returned. — 
Through this long period, they had no instruments of war but 
bows, arrows, and the war-club. 

Soon after this, the French came to Quebec, and began tra- 
ding with the Indians, and supplied them with fire-arms, and 
various other implements. The Senecas having got supplied 
with guns, and learned the use of them, made out a war-party 
the second time, against the Wyandots, came upon them in the 
night, fired into their huts and terrified them exceedingly: they 
thought at first, it was thunder and lightning. The Senecas 
did not succeed so well as they expected. After a few years, 
they made up a third war party, and fell upon the Wyandot 
villages and took nearly all of them ; but it so happened at this 
time, that nearly all the young men had gone to war with the 
Fox tribe of Indians, living on the Mississippi. 

Those few, that escaped the massacre by the Senecas, 
agreed to give up, and go back with them, and become one 
people ; but requested of the Senecas, to have two days to col- 
lect what they had, and make ready their canoes, and join them 
on the morning of the third day, at a certain point, where they 
had gone to wait for them, and hold a great dance through the 
night. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 53 

The Wyandots sent directly to their other two villages, which 
the Senecas had not disturbed, and got all their old men and 
women, and such as could fight, to consult on what measures 
to take. They came to the resolution to equip themselves in 
the best manner they could, and go down in perfect stillness, 
so near the enemy as to hear them. They found them enga- 
ged in a dance and feasting on two Wyandot men they had killed 
and roasted, as they said, ^^for their Jee/'," and as they danced, 
they shouted their victory and told how good their Wyandot 
beef was. They continued their dance until the latter part of 
the night, and being tired, they all laid down and soon fell into 
a sound sleep. A little before day, the AVyandot party fell on 
them and cut them all off; not one was left to carry back the 
tidings. Thus ended the war, for a great number of years. 

Soon after this, the Wyandots procured guns from the French 
traders, and began to grow formidable. The Indians, who 
owned the country where they had resided for a long time, 
proposed to them to go back to their own country. They 
agreed to return, and having proposed themselves as a war-par- 
ty, they returned — came down to where Detroit now stands, 
and agreed to settle in two villages, one at the place above men- 
tioned, and the other, where the British fort, Maiden, now 
stands. 

But previously to making any settlement, they sent out in 
canoes, the best war-party they could make, to go down the 
lake some distance, to see if there was an enemy on that side 
of the water. They went down to Long Point, landed, and 
sent three men across to see if they could make any discovery. 
They found a party of Senecas bending their course around 
the Point, and returned with the intelligence to their party. 
The head chief ordered his men, in each canoe, to strike fire 
and offer some of their tobacco to the Great Spirit, and prepare 
for action. 



66 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

The chief had his son, a small boy, with him ; he covered 
the boy in the bottom of his canoe. He determined to fight 
his enemy on the water. They put out into the open lake — 
the Senecas came on. Both parties took the best advantage" 
they could, and fought with a determination to conquer or sink 
in the lake. At length the Wyandots saw the last man of the 
Senecas fall ; but they had lost a great proportion of their own 
men, and were so wounded and cut to pieces, that they could 
take no advantage of the victory, but only gain the shore as 
f )on as possible, and leave the enemy's canoes to float or sink 
among the waves. Thus ended the war between the two na- 
'ons, forever. 

The Wyandots afterward settled in this country, and their 
principal town was upon the Sandusky. But little was known 
of them or their country prior to the war of the Revolution. 
During this conflict, they became extremely troublesome to the 
back counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia ; particularly to 
those of Washington, Youghiogany and Westmoreland. 

In the early part of the year 1782, these irregular excur- 
sions became so galling, that the ill-timed, and melancholy ex- 
pedition of the unfortunate Crawford, was concerted against 
tliem, particulars of which, have already been given in the In- 
troduction. After this defeat, which stands upon record, as one 
of the most calamitous and disastrous expeditions that ever 
stained the American arms, the aggressions of the savages 
were much more frequent. The frontiers were continually 
harassed by them, indiscriminately murdering those of every 
age or sex; or hurrying them captives to the wilderness, to be tor- 
tured with all the cruelty which savage ingenuity could devise. 

The fury of the Indians of north-western Ohio, was not 
checked, until they were aroused from their coverts by the 
victorious Wayne. In 1794, he dictated to many of the nor- 
thern tribes, the terms of peace. From this event, down to the 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. O 

renewal of the war, under the auspices of Tecumseh and th(. 
Prophet,* they remained comparatively tranquil. The deatl 
of their chief, and their total defeat by Harrison, destroy e(> 
forever their power in the north-west. 

On the 29th of September, 1817, a treaty was held at th-' 
foot of the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, between Lewi' 
Cass, and Duncan McArthur, commissioners of the United 
States, on the one part, and the sachems, chiefs and warriors of 
the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawanee, Patawatima, Ottt^- 
wa, and Chippewa tribes of Indians, when all their lands withi-i 
the limits of Ohio, were ceded to the United States, forever.— ^ 
At this time, there was not a single white settler within the pre 
sent limits of Seneca couaty. 

At the treaty just mentioned, the United States granted t > 
Takawraadoaw, Captain Harris, Isahowmasaw, Joseph, Tawg 
you. Captain Smith, Coffeehouse, Running-about, and Wi| ~ 
ingstick, who were chiefs of the Seneca tribe of Indians, a tract 
of land, containing thirty thousand acres, lying upon the eaist 
side of, and adjoining the Sandusky river, and mostly within 
the present limits of this county. There was an addition of 
ten thousand acres, lying south of this tract, granted to the 
Senecas, by the United States, on the 17th of September, 1816; 
at which time, a treaty was held, supplementary to the treaty o; 
tlie Miami of Lake Erie. The whole tract, consisting of forij 
thousand acres, has since been known as the " Seneca Resc' 
vation." 

Although this nation was called the " Seneca tribe of Ii 
dians," there was not, in reality, a Seneca among them. The 
were chiefly Cayugas ; with a few Mohawks, Onondaga 
Tuscarawas, Wyandots and Oneidas. But the Mingoes wei 
originally, Cayugas, and their chief was the celebrated Logar 

* During the late war, the Wyandots, Shawanese and Senecas, remained frieiadly '■' 
the United States, 



58 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

After the murder of his family, of which he speaks in his mas- 
terly speech, sent to the governor of Virginia, the Mingoes 
were scattered in bands, over the territory north west of the 
Ohio. 

Their hunting grounds, were principally, upon the Scioto, 
and Olentang}'- ; and as one of the Seneca chiefs very signifi- 
cantly remarked, " their children were raised upon their 
backs," indicating that they had no particular home. At the 
time of the treaty, they had concentrated upon the Sandusky, 
and it is a fact worthy of notice, which has been attested by a 
Seneca chief who knew him well, that upon its banks, were 
spent some of the last days of Logan, the Mingo chief. 

The Senecas lived upon their grant, until their removal to 
the west, which was agreed upon at a treaty held at Washing- 
ton city, on the 29th of February, 1831. This treaty was 
made between James B. Gardiner, commissioner on the part 
of the United States, and Comstock, Seneca Steel, Captain 
Good-hunter, Hard-hickory and Small-cloud-Spicer, chiefs of 
the Seneca tribe. George Herrin, acted as interpreter ; and 
Henry C. Brish, as sub-agent. The whole of their grant of 
forty thousand acres of land, was ceded to the United States, 
giving them full authority to sell the same ; and the proceeds 
were to be placed in funded stock, at five per cent, interest ; 
which was to be paid to the Indians as an annuity, after deduc- 
ting the cost of building for the latter, a saw and grist mill. 
The United States also gave them seventy-six thousand acres 
of land, lying upon the Neosho and Cowskin rivers, north-west 
of the state of Arkansas, and ninety miles above Fort Gibson. 

In the fall of 1831, this tribe to the number of five hundred 
and ten, started for their new home in the west. A part un- 
dertook their journey by land, and after experiencing numer- 
ous hardships, and meeting with many accidents, finally suc- 
ceeded in reaching Missouri by the next spring. The division 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 59 

under the immediate charge of their sub-agent, Mr. Brish, 
traveled by water, encountering but little difficulty. 

They finally all met on the 26th of April, above St. Louis, 
and arrived at their new homes, the 4th of July, following. — 
Twenty-eight of their number died on the road. 

The home of the Senecas is in a beautiful country, which, it 
is feared, will not remain long in their possession. The des- 
ti'oyer is among them, and their number has already greatly de- 
creased. On the 26th of August, 1845, they numbered, in all, 
including men, women, and children, but one hundred and 
ffty-three. The last two years have proved fatal to many. — 
The survivors live in comfortable houses, generally, and raise 
good crops of the coarser grains. 

Their idea of education, is too ingenious to be overlooked ; 
"for," say they, "it may perhaps be reconciled to the con- 
sciences of white men, who have a great many laws, contracts, 
&c., loritten upon paper, and education is necessary to evade 
them. But we have but few, and they are written in the heartP^ 

The following highly interesting narrative, of the execution 
for witch-craft, of one of these Indians, named Seneca John, is 
from the pen of Henry C. Brish, a resident of Clinton town- 
ship, in this county. 

"About the year 1825, Coonstick, Steel, and Cracked Hoof, 
left the reservation, for the double purpose of a three years 
hunting and trapping excursion, and to seek a location for a 
new home for the tribe, in the far west. 

" At the time of their starting, Comstock, the brother of the 
two first, was the principal chief of the tribe. On their return 
in 1828, richly laden with furs and horses, they found Seneca 
John, their fourth brother, chief, in place of Comstock, who 
had died during their absence. 

" Comstock was the favorite brother of the two, and they at 
once charged Seneca John, with producing his death by witch- 



60 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY, 

craft. John denied the charge, in a strain of eloquence, rarely 
equaled. Said he, ' I loved my brother Comstock, more than 
1 loved the green earth I stand upon. I would give up myself, 
limb by limb, piecemeal by piecemeal ; I would shed my blood, 
drop by drop, to restore him to life.' But all his protestations 
of innocence, and aifection for his brother Comstock, were of 
no avail. His two other brothers pronounced him guilty, and 
declared their determination to be his executioners. 

"John replied that he wac willing to die, and only wished to 
live until the next morning, to see the sun rise once more. — 
This request being granted, John told them that he should sleep 
that night on Hard-hickory's porch, v/hicli fronted the east, 
where they v/ould find him at sunrise. He chose that place be- 
cause he did not wish to be killed in the presence of his wife, 
and desired that the chief, Hard-hickory, should witness that lie 
died like a hrave man. 

" Coonstick and Steel, retired for the night, to an old cabin 
near by. In the morning, in company with Shane, another 
Indian, they proceeded to the house of Hard-hickory. 

" A little after sunrise, Hard-hickory heard their footsteps up- 
on the porch, and opened the door just enough to see out. He 
saw John asleep upon his blanket, and they standing around 
him. At length one of them awoke him. He aroce upon his 
feet, and took off a large handkerchief which W"i3 around his 
head, letting his unusually long hair fall upon his dioulders. — 
This being-done, he looked around upon the landscape, and at 
the rising sun, to take a farewell look of a scene that he was 
never again to behold, and then told them he was ready to die. 

" Shane and Coonstick, each took him by the arm, and Steel 
walked behind. In this vv^ay, they led him about ten steps from 
the porch, when Steel struck him v/ith a tomrihav/ii on the back 
of his head, and he fell to the ground, bleeding freely. Sup- 
posing this blow sufficient to kill him, they dragged him under 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 61 

a peach tree near by. In a short time, however, he revived — 
the blow having been broken by the great mass of hair upon 
his head. Knowing that it was Steel who struck the blow, 
John, as he lay, turned his head towards Coonstick, and said, 
* Now, brother, do you take your revenge.' 

" This so operated upon the feelings of Coonstick, that he 
interfered to save him ; but it enraged Steel to such a degree, 
that he drew his knife, and cut John's throat from ear to ear ; 
and the next day he was buried with the usual Indian ceremo- 
nies, not more than twenty feet from where he fell. 

" Steel was arrested, and tried for the murder, in Sandusky 
county, and acquitted. The grave of Seneca John was sur- 
rounded by a small picket enclosure. Three years after when 
I was preparing to move them to the west — says Mr. Brish — I 
saw Coonstick and Steel remove the picket-fence and level the 
ground, so that no vestige of the grave remained." 
6 



CHAPTER II. 

Simon Girty— His character— Attack on Fort Henrj'— Girty's harangue — 
Attack upon Bryant's station— Girty's speech— Answer of Reynolds — 
Girty's cruelty to Crawford corroborated — His death— Seneca Indians 
sacrificing' two dogs to the Great Spirit. 

The notorious Simon Girty, was adopted by the Seneca In- 
dians, and became an expert hunter. He was from Pennsyl- 
vania, to which state his father had emigrated from Ireland. — 
The old man was beastly intemperate, and nothing ranked 
higher in his estimation than a jug of whiskey. " Grog was 
his song, and gi'og would he have." His sottishness turned his 
wife's affection. Ready for seduction, she yielded her heart 
to a neighboring rustic, who, to remove all obstacles to their 
wishes, knocked Girty on the head, and bore off the trophy of 
his prowess. 

Four sons of this interesting couple were left — Thomas, Si- 
mon, George, and James. The three latter were taken prison- 
ers, in Braddock's war, by the Indians. George was adopted 
by the Delawares, became a ferocious monster, and died in a 
drunken fit. James was adopted by the Shawanese, and be- 
came as depraved as his brother. It is said, that he often visit- 
ed Kentucky, at the time of its first settlement, and inflicted 
most barbarous tortures upon all captive women who came with- 
in his reach. Traders, who were acquainted with him, say, so 
furious was he, that he would not have turned on his heel to 
save a prisoner from the flames. To this savage, are to be at- 
tributed many of the cruelties charged upon his brother Simon 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 68 

— yet he was caressed by Proctor and Elliott. In Kentucky 
and Ohio, Simon sustained the character of an unrelenting bar- 
barian. Sixty years ago, with his name was associated every 
thing cruel and fiend-like. To the women and children, in 
particular, nothing was more terrifying than the name of Si- 
mon Girty ! At that time, it was believed by many that he had 
fled from justice, and sought refuge among the Indians, deter- 
mined to do his countrymen all the harm in his power. This 
impression was an erroneous one. Being adopt-ed by the In- 
dians, he joined them in their wars, and conformed to their usa- 
ges. This was the education he had received, and their foes 
were his. Although trained in all his pursuits as an Indian, it 
is said to be a fact, susceptible of proof, that, through his im- 
portunities, many prisoners were saved from death. His in- 
fluence was great, and when he chose to be merciful, it was 
generally in his power to protect the imploring captive. 

His reputation was that of an honest man, and he fulfilled 
his engagements to the last cent. He was intemperate, and 
when intoxicated, ferocious and abusive alike of friends and 
foes. Although much disabled the last ten years of his life, by 
rheumatism, he rods to his hunting grounds, in pursuit of 
game.* 

In September, 1777, Girty led the attack on Fort Henry, on 
the site of Wheeling, during which he appeared at the window 
of a cabin, with a white flag, and demanded the surrender of 
the fort, in the name of his Britannic majesty. He read the 
proclamation of Gov. Hamilton, and promised the protection of 
the crown if they would lay down their arms, and swear alle- 
giance to the king. He warned them to submit peaceably, and 
admitted his inability to restrain his warriors, when excited in 
the strife of battle. Col. Shepard, the commandant, promptly 

•Camobell's Sketches. 



64 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

replied, that they would never surrender to him^ and that he 
could only obtain possession of the fort, when there remained 
no longer an American soldier to defend it. Girty renewed 
his proposition, but it was abruptly ended by a shot from a 
thoughtless youth, and Girty retired, and opened the siege, 
which proved unsuccessful. 

Baker's station, in that vicinity, was also attacked, not far 
from this time, by Girty and his band, but without success. 

In August, 1782, a powerful body of Indians, led by Girty, 
appeared before Bryant's station, in Kentucky, about five miles 
from Lexington. The Kentuckians made such a gallant resis- 
tance, that the Indians became disheartened, and were about 
abandoning the siege ; upon this, Girty, thinking he might 
frighten the garrison into a surrender, mounted a stump, with- 
in speaking distance, and commenced a parley. He told them 
who lie was, that he looked hourly for reinforcements with 
cannon, and that they had better surrender at once ; if they did 
so, no one should be hurt ; otherwise, he feared they would all 
fall victims. The garrison were intimidated ; but one young 
man, named Reynolds, seeing the effects of the harangue, and 
believing his story — as it was — ^to be false, of his own accord, 
answered him in this wise : " You need not be so particular to 
tell us your name ; we know your name, and you, too. I've 
had a villainous^ untrust-wortliy cur-dog this long time, named 
Simon Girty, in comipliment to you ; he's so like you — -just as 
ugly, and just as wicked. As to the cannon, let them come on; 
the country's roused, and the scalps of your red cut-throats, 
and your own, too, will be drying on our cabins, in twenty- 
four hours ; and if, by chance, j^ou, or your allies do get into 
the fort, we've a big store of rods laid in, on purpose to scourge 
you out again." This response of Reynolds, was effectual :- — 
the Indians withdrew, and were pursued a few days after, (the 
defenders of the fort being in the mean-time reinforced,) to the 



:W 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 69 

Blue-licks, where the Indians lay in ambush, and defeated the 
Kentuckians with great slaughter. 

Girty was also at St. Clair's defeat, and led the attack on 
Colerain. 

Dr. Knight, in his narrative of his captivity and burning of 
Col. Crawford, (see Introduction,) speaks of the cruelty of Si- 
mon Girty, to the Colonel and himself. Col. Johnston corrob- 
orates the account of Dr. Knight. In a communication before 
us, he says : " He was notorious for his cruelty to the whites, 
who fell into the hands of the Indians. His cruelty to the un- 
fortunate Crawford, is well known to myself; and although I 
did not witness the tragedy, I can vouch for the facts of the case, 
having had them from eye-witnesses. When that brave and 
unfortunate commander was suffering at the stake by a slow 
fire, in order to lengthen his misery to the longest possible 
time, he besought Girty to have him shot, to end his torments, 
when the monster mocked him by firing powder, without ball, 
at him. 

" Crawford and Girty had been intimately acquainted in the 
early settlement of Pennsylvania ; I knew a brother of the lat- 
ter at Pittsburgh, in 1793." 

Mr. Daniel M. Workman, now living in Logan county, gave 
us orally the following, respecting the last years of Girty : — 
" In 1813," said he, " I went to Maiden, and put up at a hotel, 
kept by a Frenchman. I noticed, in the bar-room, a gray- 
headed and blind, old man. The landlady, who was his daugh* 
ter, a woman of about thirty years of age, inquired of me, 
* Do you know who that is V pointing to the old man. On my 
replying * No,' she replied, ' it is Simon Girty /' He had then 
been blind about four years. In 1815, I returned to Maiden, 
and ascertained that Girty had died a short time previous.—-- 
Simon Kenton informed me that Girty left the whites, because 
he was not promoted to the command of a battalion. Girty 
6* 



6<J HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

was a man of extraordinary strength, power of endurance, 
courage and sagacity. He was in height about five feet ten in- 
ches, and strongly made."* 

,' The following account of the Seneca Indians sacrificing two 
dogs to the Great Spirit, is given by an eye-witness. It hap- 
pened just before their departure for their new homes. 

We rose early, and proceeded directly to the council-house, 
and though we supposed Vv^e were early, the Indians were al- 
ready in advance of us. 

The first object which arrested our attention, was a pair of 
the canine species, one of each gender, suspended on a cross ! 
one on either side thereof. These animals had been strangled 
—not a hone loas broken, nor could a distorted hair be seen ! — 
They were of a beautiful cream color, except a few dark spots 
on one, naturally, which same spots were put on the other arti- 
ficially, by the devotees. The Indians are very partial in the 
selection of dogs entirely wliite for this occasion, and for which 
they will give almost any price. 

Now for part of the decorations, to which I have already al- 
luded, and a description of one will sufiice for both. 

First, a scarlet ribin was tastefully tied just above the nose, 
and near the eyes another ; next, around the neck, was a white 
ribin, to which was attached some l)ulbs, concealed in another 
white ribin ; this was placed directly under the right ear ; and 
I suppose it was intended as an amulet, or charm. Then, rib- 
ins were bound around the fore-legs at the knees, and near the 
feet — these were red and white alternately. Round the body 
was a profuse decoration ; then the hind-legs were decorated as 
tlie fore ones. Thus were the victims prepared, and thus or- 
namented for the burnt offering. 

While minutely making this examination, I was almost un- 
conscious of the collection of a large number of Indians, who 

* Ohio — its history and antiquities. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 67 

were then assembled to offer their sacrifices. Adjacent to the 
cross, was a large fire, built on a few logs ; and though the snow 
was several inches deep, they had prepared a sufficient quanti- 
ty of combustible material, removed the snow from the logs, and 
placed thereon their fire. I have often regretted that I did not 
see them light this pile. My own opinion is, they did not use 
the fire from their council-house; because I think they would 
have considered that as common — and as this was intended to be 
a holy service, they no doubt, for this purpose, struck fire from 
a flint, this being deemed sacred. 

It was a clear, beautiful morning, and just as the first rays of 
the sun were seen in the tops of the towering forest, and its re- 
flections fmm the snowy surface, the Indians simultaneously 
formed a semi-circle enclosing the cross, each flank resting on 
the aforesaid pile of logs. 

Good-hunter, who officiated as high-priest, now appeared, 
and approached the cross ; arrayed in his pontifical robes, he 
looked quite respectable. 

The Indians being all assembled — I say Indians, for there 
was not a squaw present, during all this ceremony — at a private 
signal given by the high-priest, two young chiefs spi'ang upon 
the cross, and each taking off* one of the victims, brought it 
down, and presented it on his arms, to the high-priest, who, re- 
ceiving it with great reverence, in like manner, advanced to 
the fire, and with a very grave and solemn air, laid it thereon. 
And this he did with the other — but to which, whether male or fe^ 
male, he gave preference, I did not learn. This done, he reti- 
red to the cross. 

In a devout manner, he now commenced an oration. The 
tone of his voice was audible, and somewhat chanting. At ev- 
ery pause in his discourse, he took from a white cloth he held 
in his left hand, a portion of dried, odoriferous herbs, which he 
threw on the fire. This was intended as incense. In the mean 



68 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

while, his auditory, their eyes on the ground, with grave aspect 
and in solemn silence, stood motionless, listening attentively to 
every word he uttered. Thus he proceeded, until the victims 
were entirly consumed, and the incense exhausted, when he 
concluded his service- 

The oblation now made, and the wrath of the Great Spirit, 
as they believed, appeased, they again assembled in the coun- 
cil house, for the purpose of performing a part in their festival, 
different from any I had yet witnessed. Each Indian, as he 
entered, seated himself on the floor, thus forming a large cir- 
cle ; when one of the old chiefs rose, and with that native dig- 
nity which some Indians possess in a great degree, recounted 
his exploits as a warrior ; told in how many fights he had been 
the victor ; the number of scalps he had taken from his ene- 
mies ; and what, at the head of his braves, he yet intended to 
do at the *' Rocky Mountains ;" accompanying his narration 
with energy, warmth, and strong gesticulation. When he en- 
ded, he received the unanimous applause of the assembled tribe. 

This meed of praise was awarded to the chief, by " three 
times three" articulations, which were properly neither nasal, 
oral, nor guttural, but rather abdominal. 

Thus, many others in the circle, old and young, rose in or- 
der, and pro forma, delivered themselves of speeches. Among 
those was Good-hunter ; but he 

" Had laid his robes away. 
His mitre and his vest." 

His remarks were not filled with such bombast as vsome oth- 
ers ; but brief, modest and appropriate ; in fine, they were 
such as became a priest of one of the lost ten tribes of Israel. 

After all had spoken who wished to speak, the floor was 
cleared and the dance renewed, in which Indian and squaw uni- 
ted, with their wonted hilarity and zeal. 

Just as the dance ended, an Indian boy ran to me, and with 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 69 

fear strongly depicted in his countenance, caught me by the 
arm, and drew me to the door, pointing with his other hand to- 
wards something he wished me to observe. 

I looked in that direction, and saw the appearance of an In- 
dian running at full speed to the council-house ; in an instant, 
he was in it, and literally in the fire, which he took in his 
hands, and threw fire, coals and hot ashes in various directions 
through the house, and apparently, all over himself! At his en- 
trance, the young Indians, much alarmed, had all fled to the 
further end of the house, where they remained crowded, in 
great dread of this personification of the Evil Spirit ! After di- 
verting himself with the fire a few moments, at the expense of 
the young ones, to their no small joy, he disappeared. 

This was an Indian disguised with a hideous false face, hav- 
ing horns on his head, and his hands and feet protected from 
the effects of the fire ; and though not a professed " Fire-king,'* 
he certainly performed his part to admiration. 

During the continuance of this festival, the hospitality of the 
Senecas was unbounded. In the council-house, and at the res- 
idence of Tall Chief, were a number of large, fat bucks, and 
fat hogs, hanging up, and neatly dressed. Bread, also, of both 
corn and wheat, in great abundance. 

Large kettles of soup ready prepared, in which maple sugar, 
profusely added, made a prominent ingredient, thus forming a 
very agreeable saccharine coalescence. All were invited, and 
all were made welcome ; indeed, a refusal to partake of their 
bounty, was deemed disrespectful, if not unfriendly. 

I left them in the afternoon enjoying themselves to the full- 
est extent ; and so far as I could perceive, their pleasure was 
without alloy. They were eating and drinking ; but on this 
occasion, no ardent spirits were permitted — dancing and rejoi- 
cing — caring, and, probably, thinking not of to-morrow. 



CHAPTER III. 

Erection of counties — The New Purchase — Land Districts — Sale of lands 
— Seneca county' — Roads — Oakley — Sandusky river — Honey creek- 
Wolf creek — Organization of the county — First annual election. 

On the 12th day of February, 1820, an act was passed by 
the General Assembly of Ohio, erecting into fourteen separate 
and distinct counties, all the lands within the state, which, by 
the late treaty, had been ceded by the Indians to the United 
States. These lands included the whole of what was called 
the " New Purchase," and were, soon after the treaty, direct- 
ed to be surveyed. From the boundary line between this 
state and Indiana, the surveyor, Mr. Bourne, ran a line due 
east, until it reached the south-west corner of the Connecticut 
Reserve, dividing the New Purchase into two parts. This is 
the hase-line^ which separates this county from those of Wyan- 
dot and Crawford. From the Indiana line, which was taken as 
a meridian, other lines were run parallel to the same, cutting 
the base-line at right angles, at the distance of every six miles 
throughout its whole length. These lines, running north and 
south, are called ranges. 

Lines were also run, parallel to the base-line, at the distance 
of every six miles, both north and south, until they reached 
the northern and southern extremities of the purchase. As 
these lines cross the ranges at right angles, the whole is cut 
into squares of thirty-six miles each, containing thirty -six sec- 
tions of land. The ranges are numbered progressively east- 
ward, from the Indiana line, until they strike the western edge 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, 71 

of the Connecticut Reserve. All of the squares, each one of 
which constitues a township, are noted by progressive numbers 
from the base-line, both north and south. All the other lines, 
except the base-line, were run by Alexander Holmes, who fin- 
ished his survey, in the fall of 1819. By provisions of the 
act already mentioned, the ninth of the fourteen counties, to in- 
clude township one, two, and three, north, in ranges thirteen, 
fourteen, fifteen, sixteen and seventeen, east, was called Seneca. 

The county, thus constituted by name and boundary, re- 
ceived its name from the Seneca tribe of Indians, whose histo- 
ry has already been given. The county was not organized, 
until four years afterwards, during which time, it remained at- 
tached to Sandusky county for judicial purposes. During the 
summer of 1820, and the spring of 1821, the several town- 
ships in this county were surveyed into sections and quarter- 
sections, except the land comprising the Indian grants, v/hich 
were not surveyed until 1832. 

The whole of the New Purchase having been thus divided, 
a line was drawn north and south, nearly in the center, separa- 
rating it into two parts, called the Piqua and Delaware land- 
districts ; the former comprising the western, and the latter, 
the eastern section. On the 3d of August, 1821, so much of 
the Delaware land-district as lay north of the base-line, was of- 
fered to the highest bidder, in the town of Delaware, the mini- 
mum price being fixed, at ten shillings per acre. 

The average purchase price of the land bought in this coun- 
ty at the sale, was but little higher than that established by law. 
Very little since has been entered by speculators, so that the 
population of Seneca county, from its commencement, has been 
of a permanent and industrious character. Possessing but lit- 
tle fictitious capital, its increase in population and wealth has 
been steady and rapid. 

Thirty years ago, it was a mighty forest — an unbroken chain 



t2 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

of wilderness — entirely covered with sturdy oaks, and thrifty 
hickories, intermingled with numerous other forest trees, such 
as beech, maple, poplar, black-walnut, sycamore, &c. Upon 
the bosom of the Sandusky, the wild-fowl reposed in safety, 
and the deer sported in their native haunts. Along this river 
and its tributaries, the hungry wolf prowled in search of food; 
and their hiding-places were in the thickets of the up-land.— 
Here and there, the smoke ascended from the Indian's wigwam, 
curling majestically amidst the branches of the towering oak ; 
while the wily hunter pursued his game along the margin of 
creeks ; or reposed upon his matted couch, by blazing faggots 
of the wilderness. Such was 8e7ieca county, thirty years ago ! 

At that time, there v/as only one solitary road leading through 
the county. This was first known as " BelVs roady'' having 
been surveyed by Gen. Bell, of ¥/ooster, as early as the year 
1812. It connected Upper and Lower Sandusky, and was 
opened by a Mr. Meeker, It ran along the western bank of 
the Sandusky river, and has since been known as the ^^old ar- 
my road^^^ from its being the principal thoroughfare for troops 
and supplies, during the wan' of 1812. For several years after 
the close of the war, large quantities of flour and other provis- 
ions, for the settlements around Lower Sandusky, passed along 
this road ; and many emi_grants from Europe, who had previ- 
ously landed in Canada, took this course, on their way to the 
south, making it quite a traveled road, before there was a white 
settler in the county. In 1821, this road was again surveyed 
by David Risdon, Esq. and constituted a state road. 

In 1820, Israel Flerrington surveyed what is at this time 
known as the '■^Morrison state road,^^ leading from Croghans- 
ville to Delaware. It received its name from one of the com- 
missioners, who was at that time, a resident of Croghansville. 
This was the first road east of the Sandusky. 

In 1822, a road was surveyed by Col. James Kilbourn, lead- 



HISTOEY OP SENECA COUNTY. 



73 



mg from Sandusky City to Upper Sandusky, and known as the 
''Kilhourn road:' The first teams driven along the line of 
this road, within the limits of the county, were by Thomas 
Baker, from New York, and Ezra Brown from the same state ; 
both of whom, have ever since been residents of the county. 

During the month of February, 18*20, was established the 
first post-office in the county, af Oakley. This town had been 
surveyed some time previous, by Joseph Vance, upon land gran- 
ted to one Robert Armstrong, an account of whom will be giv- 
en hereafter. This was the first surveyed and platted town in 
the county. In 1824, it was again surveyed, by David Risdon, 
and its name changed to Fort Ball. The gentleman just na- 
med, was the first post-master, and at the^ time of his appoint- 
ment, there was but one mail-rout through the county — which 
was along the " old army road'''' — and extended from Columbus 
to Lower Sandusky. 

Sandusky rivcr^ the largest stream of water in the county, 
passes through it, from south to north, dividing it nearly, into 
two equal parts. It rises in the western part of Richland coun- 
ty, and after a westerly course of twenty miles, reaches Upper 
Sandusky, where it changes its course, running northerly, until 
it reaches the southern boundary of this ccunly. It cresses the 
line, in the south-east corner of Seneca township, and afler de- 
viating from its northerly direction into Eden township, it again 
passes into Seneca. Running along the eastern edge of this 
township, it crosses into Hopewell, almo&t due north of its en- 
trance into the county. From Hopewell township, it passes 
into Clinton, a little below the mouth of Floney creek ; and 
after pursuing a northerly course in this township, it enters 
Pleasant. After passing through Pleasant township, it leaves 
the county, and taking a northerly course, falls into Sandusky 
Bay, about eighty miles, by the course of the river, from its 

source. 
7 



74 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

As to the origin of the name of this river, there are two 
opinions. By some, it is believed to be a word of French ex- 
traction, given to the bay and river, by the Indians, in honor of 
the first French trader who visited the country. In Cham- 
paigne county, Illinois, there is now living, a man of this name, 
who claims that one of his ancestors settling at an early period 
upon the Sandusky, and becoming a great favorite among the 
Indians, they, as a mark of respect, gave his name (Sowdows- 
ky) to the river and bay. 

By the tradition of aged Indian warriors, given to the late 
William Henry Harrison in the friendly chat of the wigwam, 
when he first became acquainted with the north-western tribes, 
the following appears to be the origin and signification of the 
word Sandusky. After the naval conflict upon the lake, be- 
tween the Wyandots and Senecas, mentioned in Chapter I., 
these conquering bands, having landed at Maumee, followed the 
lake shore towards the east, passing and giving names to bays, 
creeks, and rivers, until they arrived at Cold creek, where it 
enters the Sandusky bay. Being charmed with the springs of 
clear, cold water in this vicinity, they pitched their tents and 
engaged in hunting and fishing. By them (the Wyandots) the 
bay and river was called Sandusky ; meaning in their language, 
'''' at the cold water. ^'' 

"I have a note of conversation," says JohnH. James, in the 
American Pioneer, " with William Walker, at Columbus, in 
1835-6, at which time, he was principal chief of the Wyandots, 
at Upper Sandusky, in which I asked the meaning of the word, 
Sandusky. He said it meant ' at the cold water,'' and should 
be sounded San-doos-tee. He said it ' carried with it, the force 
of a preposition.' The Upper Cold Water, and the Lower 
Cold Water, then, were descriptive Indian names, given long 
before the presence of the trader, Sowdowsky." 

In the vocabulary of Wyandot words, given by John Johns- 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 75 

ton, Esq., formerly Indian agent in Ohio, as printed in Archce- 
logia Aaiericana, Vol. I. p. 295, the word waler is given, Sa- 
un-dus-tee ; and in page 297, he gives the name of Sandusky 
river, as Sa-undustec, or water within water pools. 

The Sandusky, compared with most of our western rivers, is 
rapid and shallow. It becomes quite low during tlie summer 
months ; but in the spring and fall, it generally fills its banks, 
as also, during the winter months. 

The greatest rise of waters ever known in this river, occur- 
red in January last. In 1621, according to the observations of 
one Spicer, an Indian captive, who had then lived nearly forty 
years upon its banks, the water rose that year higher than it 
had before, since his recollection. In January last, it was con- 
siderably above the mark of 1821. 

In 1819, Paul D. Butler, in the employ of Robert Arm- 
strong, a sketch of whose life will be given hereafter, erected 
a saw-mill upon this river, between what are now the towns of 
New Fort Ball and Tifiin, which was the first mill in the coun- 
ty. It was a miserable affair, and was soon after demolished. 
There are, at this time, seven grist-mills, and several saw-mills 
upon this river within the limits, of the county. The land along 
the Sandusky is very fertile, and as you recede from the river 
towards the west, it is generally level, and in some places incli- 
ning to be wet. In the eastern portion of the county, the soil 
is more clavev. 

Honey creek, the largest tributary of the Sandusky, rises in 
the New Haven marshes, near the corners of Richland, Craw- 
ford, Huron, and this county, and passes directly into the latter, 
in Venice township. Taking a north-westerly course through 
Venice, it enters the township of Bloom, near its north-east 
corner. Pursuing a south-v/esterly direction through Bloom, 
it passes into Eden township ; and after making a large curve 



76 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY- 

in Eden, it leaves the latter township near its north-west cor- 
ner, and in Hopewell falls into the Sandusky. 

The first grist-mill erected in the county was upon this creek, 
just above the site of the town of Melmore. It was built in 1821, 
by Ezra and Case Brown. The first grist ground in this mill, 
was for a Mr. Free, of the township of Bloom. The event was 
hailed with great J03/ by the early settlers, as they were now 
relieved from those long and tedious journeys through the wil- 
derness, to Upper Sandusky, Monroeville, and Mt. Vernon. — 
In 1827, another mill was erected upon this stream, by John 
Kinzer, (an early settler from the state of Pennsylvania,) a lit- 
tle below the present village of Melmore. Mr. Kinzer has ev- 
er since resided upon the banks of this creek — -a very intelli- 
gent man, and much respected citizen. Honey creek receiv- 
ed its name from the appearance of the water when high, which 
very much resembles honey* 

Wolf creek, another tributary of the Sandusky, rises in the 
south-west part of the county, and after passing through Sene- 
ca, Hopewell, and Liberty townships, it finally falls into the 
Sandusky river, in Sandusky county, soon after it enters its 
limits. This stream, running through a level country, is some- 
what sluggish. It received its name from the circumstance of 
a great number of wolves formerly inhabiting the swamps near 
its source, and the thickets around the wet prairies, a little west 
of its m.outh. 

By an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, of the 22d of 
January, 1824, Seneca was organized into a separate and dis- 
tinct county. All justices of the peace, and other officers were 
to continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices un- 

* There are several sink-holes in the bed of this stream, into which much of the wa- 
ter precipitates itself, and many are of the opinion that were these filled, as they say 
might be done with a limited expense, sufficient water would run the year round, to dnr» 
the several mills located upon the creek. 



HIST^ORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 77 

til their successors should be chosen and qualified according to 
law. 

It was farther provided, that all qualified electors residing in 
the county, should meet in their respective townships, on the 
first Monday of April, following, and elect their several offi- 
cers until the next annual election ; and until others were cho- 
sen and qualified according to law. 

It was also enacted, that all suits and actions, whether of a 
civil or criminal nature, which had been commenced, should be 
prosecuted to final judgment and execution ; and all taxes, fines 
and penalties which were due, should be collected in the same 
manner as if the act had not been passed. 

This act took effect, the first day of April, 1824, and accor- 
ding to its provisions, elections were held in the townships of 
Thompson, Seneca, Eden and Clinton, these being the only 
ones then organized. The county officers first to be chosen, 
were a sherif and coroner. For the former office, Agreen In- 
graham received one hundred and ninety votes — for the latter, 
Leverett Bradley received two hundred and six, and both were 
elected. 

The first county court was held the 12th of the same month, 
at Tiffin, in the house at present occupied as a Masonic hall. 
It continued about thirty minutes ; during which time a county 
surveyor was appointed ;* and a clerk of the courtt, pro tem. 
Hon. Ebenezer Lane presided at this court as president judge, 
and William Cornell, Jaques Hulburd and Mathew Clark were 
his associates. 

On the 12th of October of the same year, the first annual 
election was held in the county, and the ticket elected was as 
follows : 

Sherif, Agreen Ingraham. 

* David Risdon. t Neal McGaffey. 
7* 



78 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

Coroner, Christopher Stone. 

Auditor, David Smith. 

r Benjamin Whitmore, 
Commissioners, < Thomas Boyd, and 
C Doctor Dmm. 
During the same year, a prosecuting attorney v/as appointed 
by the court of Common Pleas ;* and a treasurer,! 5y the 
county commissioners. [For a list of county officers, see Ap- 
pendix.] 

Immediately after its organization, the affairs of the county 
commenced with a successful tide of operation. Courts of jus- 
tice were established, officers chosen, townships organized, 
roads constructed, mills erected, and the dense forests fallen by 
the sturdy hand of industry. 

*" Rodolphus Dickinson, t Milton McNeal, 



CHAPTER IV. 

Camp Ball — First settler in Seneca county — Clinton township— Fort Ball 
— Robert Armstrong — William McCullock — Tiffin — Laud offices — 
Mad River and Lake Erie Rail-road . 

About the middle of July, ,1813, a detachment of men, un- 
der the command of Lieutenant Colonel James V. Ball,* built 
a stockade near the old army road, upon the bank of the San- 

*About half a mile south-west of Ballsville, in Sandvisky countj', Lieut. Col. James V. 
Ball had a skirmish with the Indians, a day or two previous to the assault on Fort Ste- 
phenson. There isj or was a few years' since, an oak tree on the site of the action, on 
the road to Columbus, with 17 hacks in it, to indicate the number of Indians, killed on the 
occasion.- The squadron was moving towards the fort, when they were suddenly fired 
upon by the Indians from the west side of the road, whereupon Col. Ball ordered a charge, 
when he with his suit and the right flank being in advance, first came into action. The 
colonel struck t]ifi first blow. He dashed in between two savages, and cut down the one 
on the right ; the other, being slighfly in the rear, made a blow with a tomahawk at his 
back, when by a sudden spring of his horse, it fell short, and was buried deep in the can- 
tel and pad of his saddle. Before the savage could repeat the blow, he was sliot by Cor- 
poral Ryan. Lieut. Hedges — now General James Hedges of Mansfield, the surveyor of 
Tiflin and brother of Josiah Hedges, proprietor of the latter place — following in the rear 
mounted on a small horse, pursued a large Indian, and just as he had come up to him, his 
stirrup brojce, and he fell head-first oflThis horse, knocking the Indian down. Both sprang 
to their feet, when Hedges struck the Indian across his head, and as he was falling, buri- 
ed the sword up to its hilt in his body. We have been informed, that many years after, 
the lost stirrup was found, and sent to the gallant Hedges, at Mansfield. 

At this time. Captain Hopkins was seen on the left, in pursuit of a powerful savage, 
when the latter turned and made a blow at the captain with a tomahawk, at which his 
horse sprang to one side. Cornet Hayes then came up, and the Indian struck at him, hia 
horse in like manner evading the blow. Sergeant Anderson now arriving, the Indian was 
soon dispatched. By this time, the skirmish was over, the Indians, who were about 
twenty in number, being nearly all cut down ; and orders were given to retreat to the 
main squadron. 

Col. Ball dressed his men, ready for a charge, should the Indians appear in force, and 
moved down without further molestation to the fort, where they arrived, at 4 o'clock, 
in the afternooD. 



80 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

dusky river, opposite the present town of Tiffin ; and in hon- 
or to its commandant, it was called " Camp Ball." 

This camp was built as a transient place of security, in case 
of disaster at the north ; and as a magazine for supplies. — 
The camp consisted of stakes a foot in thickness, fixed in the 
ground, with bayonets driven through them, horizontally, near 
their tops. Against these, logs were piled upon the outside ; 
and over the logs, dirt was thrown from a ditch, which sur- 
rounded the whole. There was room- in the interior, for five 
hundred men. 

After the battle of Tippecanoe, a detachment was sent by 
General Harrison, who was then at Seneca, up the river, to 
strengthen this camp.' The soldiers were quartered here sev- 
eral days, during which time, they were frequently destitute of 
provisions ; and once, their supply was so completely exhaust- 
ed, that they were obliged to subsist entirely upon ^5/1 — a part 
standing guard to protect those that were fishing, from the lur- 
king savages. 

Before the battle at Fort Stephenson, this detachment left for 
the Maumee, but the post was occasionally occupied, until Har- 
rison left the country. Vestiges of Camp Ball still remain. — 
Between the ground and the river, is a beautiful spring of wa- 
ter, which serves to mark the spot where the camp once stood. 
It is on the west bank of the river, just above the new bridge 
which crosses the stream, at the foot of Washington street, Tif- 
fin. Several soldiers were buried near the camp ; and among 
their number was the father of a Mr. Powers, of Delaware, — 
The remains of one of these, were exhumed a short time since, 
by some workmen in the employ of R. W. Shawhan. 

On the 18th of November, 1817, Erastus Bowe, the Jirst 
jettler in Seneca county, arrived at Camp Ball, where some 
'ured men had erected him a log house, which was within the 



HISTORY OP SENEGA COUNTY- 81 

limits of the camp — many of the stakes standing at the time. 
Here commenced the first settlement in the county. 

Mr. Bowe was born in Rutland county, Vermont, and pass- 
ed through this county as early as 1812, under the command 
of General Hull. He was in Norton's company, at the build- 
ing of the fort at Lower Sandusky ; and was one of those da- 
ring rangers, who scoured the Indian country, and protected 
the whites from savage cruelty. He was a citizen of Dela* 
ware, eight years previous to his settling in this county. Af- 
ter the close of the war, he occasionally hunted in this vicini- 
ty, and among the early settlers of the county was famous as a 
deer-hunter. 

Soon after his arrival in 1817, he erected a house just below 
Camp Ball ; and here he opened ihe first tavern in the county. 
His charges must have been somewhat in advance of those of 
the present day; as butter was worth, at that time, two shillings 
a pound ; pork, six dollars per hundred ; and flour, twelve 
dollars per barrel. Mr. Bowe has ever since resided in the 
county, and is now a resident of Hopewell township. Thirty 
years ago, he came to this county, and for several months was 
the only settler within its limits. 

With what astonishment, mingled with admiration, must he 
look back upon the years that have passed, and see the mighty 
change that has been wrought, since he first located upon the 
banks of the Sandusky ! Instead of standing in the door of his 
humble log shanty, which was then far in the wilderness — a 
dense portion of which occupied the present site of the town 
of Tiffin — he now sees there, from the beautiful village of New 
Fort Ball, a large and flourishing town, the county-seat of a 
populous and wealthy county ! 

There is now the track of a rail-road, where was then an In-^ 
dian trail ; and instead of the \yild whoop of the Indian hunt- 



82 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

er, his ears are now greeted with the shrill whistle of the lo- 
comotive, and the thuadering of rolling wheels ! 

Clinton township was organized on the first Monday of June, 
1820 ; and its boundaries, defined by the commissioners of 
Sandusky county, as follow : "Commencing where the town- 
ship line between (townships) No. two (2) and three (3) 
strikes the river, on the east bank thereof; thence with said 
line, to the north-east corner of township No. two, (2,) in 
range fifteen (15) east; thence south with the range line between 
ranges fifteen (15) and sixteen, (16,) to the south-east corner of 
the aforesaid township : thence west to the township line be- 
tween (townships) No. one (1) and two; (2;) thence north- 
wardly, with the meanders of the river, to the place of begin- 
ning." It received its name from De Witt Clinton^ governor 
of New York. 

The first township election was held on the 15th of June, 
1822. Its population in 1840, was 2,195. Since that time, it 
has steadily increased in business, population and wealth, num- 
bering among others of its enterprising farmers — George Sto- 
ner, Samuel Waggoner, Ezra Baker, Jacob Souder, Elisha 
Olmsted, Thomas Coe, Jacob Adams, John Souder, Dennis 
Stoner, Levi Davis, Samuel Rule, John S wander, William 
Hunter, Joseph Richards, Eli Olmsted, Thomas Ellis, Freder- 
ick Cramer, Ezra Derr, John Baugher, William Baker, John 
Keller, Hezekiah Searles, Jacob Holtz, Joseph Burnsides, 
Grafton Bernard, Dennis Cramer, and Aenas Cramer. 

In 1819, Abner Pike settled in Oakley ; (now New Fort 
Ball ;) and, on the 1st of April, of the following year, David 
Risdon came to this town, and shortly after was appointed post- 
master, the first in the county. Subsequently, Mr. Pike loca- 
ted upon the farm at present owned by Ezra Baker. 

At the time of the survey of Oakley by Joseph Vance, there 
were no dwellings upon the site of the town, and only one 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 83 

house in its vicinity, which was the residence of Mr. Bowe. 

In 1824, the town of jPor^ jBaZZ was surveyed upon the same 
plat, by David Risdon, receiving its name from the camp be- 
fore mentioned. Had it not been that the land upon which 
this town was surve3'ed, belonged to Robert Armstrong, it 
would, doubtless, have become the county-seat of the county. 

At the treaty of the Miami of Lake Erie, the United States 
granted to Mr. Armstrong this tract, consisting of one section, 
of 640 acres of land, afterwards known as the " Armstrong 
Reservation." 

Armstrong was taken captive by the Wyandot Indians, at 
three years of age, in the state of Pennsylvania. He niarried 
a half-blood Indian woman, and was in every respect a gentle- 
man. He spoke excellent English ; so much so, that it would 
not have been suspected he had ever lived among the Indians. 
Having been for a number of years, employed as interpreter 
by the United States, it was in consideration of his valuable 
services in this capacity, that he received his grant of land. — 
He died in 1825, about two miles from Upper Sandusky, upon 
the Wyandot reservation. 

The United States granted, at the same time and place, to 
the children of William McCullock, a section of 640 acres of 
land, lying just below the Armstrong reservation, above men- 
tioned. McCullock was killed by a cannon ball at the siege of 
Fort Meigs, while sitting in General Harrison's tent ; and was 
employed at the time, as interpreter for the United States. 

Dr. Eli Dresbach, from Circleville, a graduate of the Ohio 
Medical college, settled in this town^ (Fort Ball,) on the 17th 
day of February, 1823, and removed from the latter place to 
Tiffin in 1826, where he has since resided. 

Rodolphus Dickinson, from New York, a member of Con- 
gress for this district, settled in Fort Ball, in 1824, and was the 
first attorney at law in the county. 



% 



84 HISTORY OP SENEGA COUNTY. 

On the 15th day of February, 1826, Abel Rawson, from 
Massachusetts, who succeeded Mr. Dickinson as prosecuting at- 
torney, settled in this place and became a permanent resident. 
He has ever since, pursued the practice of law in this county, 
and now ranks among the first in his profession, in northern 
Ohio. 

Fort Ball, (now New Fort Ball,) has since grown steadily, 
and is at the present time a flourishing and healthy place.- — 
Its location is pleasant — commanding a view of the whole of 
Tiffin, and also, much of the surrounding country. It contains 
about sixty dwellings, one chi^rch, three large ware-houses, 
three stores, two tanneries, two carriage-shops, two hotels, two 
groceries, one cabinet-shop, three shoe-shops, one tin-shop, and 
three blacksmith's-shops. 

Its population is over four hundred, and is rapidly increas- 
ing- 

jNew Fort Ball was surveyed and platted, by James Durbin, 
county surveyor, on the 25th of November, 1837. It is situ- 
ated upon the eastern portion of the Armstrong reservation, 
and contains six hundred and twenty in-lots. The town is 
made to include all of the northern addition to Tiffin; and all 
of what was before known as " Fort Ball." 

Tiffin, the county-seat of this county, is situated in Clinton 
township, upon the east bank of, and adjoining the Sandusky 
river, in latitude 41° 7' north, fongitude 6° 8' west, of Wash- 
ington city. It received its name from Edward Tiffin, presi- 
dent of the convention that formed the Constitution of Ohio, 
and first governor of the state, after its admission into the Un- 
ion. 

In 1821, Josiah Hedges, from Mansfield, Richland county, 
entered at the Delaware land-office, the land upon which Tiffin 
now stands. It was surveyed by General James Hedges, of 
Mansfield, brother of the proprietor. The first stick was cut 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 85 

upon the town-plat, in March, 1822, and soon after, Messrs. 
Wetz, Drennon, and John Mim, of Mansfield, and Henry 
Welch, of Eden township, had a town-lot given to each of 
them by the proprietor, with the stipulation that they were to 
erect cabins, and bring on their families, which was done im- 
mediately thereafter. 

James Spink, of Wooster, came to the place during the same 
month, bringing with him a small stock of goods ; but the next 
winter, he left ; his store having been broken open and plun- 
dered of goods, to a considerable amount. 

Simeon B. Howard, from the eastern part of the state, came 
to the place during the same month ; so that on the 25th of 
jMarch, 1822, the day the county-seat was located here, there 
were six cabins in the place. The commissioners to locate the 
seat of justice, were Messrs. Herford, Miner, and Cyrus 
Spink. 

In 1822, Mr. Hedges, proprietor of Tiffin, erected a saw- 
mill on Rocky creek, about a quarter of a mile east of the town, 
and a grist-mill about half a mile north of the place, upon the 
Sandusky river. He also erected the first frame house upon 
the town-plat in 1822, the same that is at present occupied as 
a Masonic hall. It was used as a store until the next year, 
(1823.) Soon after, it was occupied for the holding of the 
county courts, which were continued here until 1828. 

The prospects of Tiffin, the first few years after its com- 
mencement, were not very flattering, nor its appearance very 
prepossessing. The unhealthiness of the town, incident to all 
new settlements — its situation on the side of the i*iver, (then 
without abridge,) opposite to Fort Ball, through which the main 
traveled road from Columbus to Lower Sandusky then exten- 
ded — and the vigorous efforts made at the time to remove the 
seat of justice from Tiffin to Fort Ball — all conspired to disr 
hearten the proprietor, who began to be fearful that it would 



86 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

never progress to any extent. But his apprehensions proved 
groundless, as it has since steadily increased, and is now a thri- 
ving, populous, and beautiful town. 

The streets are wide, and generally well paved. It is the 
great mart of trade for the surrounding country — the farmer 
finding here a ready market for his produce, at all times of the 
year. Communication by rail-road, with Sandusky City and 
Cincinnati, is now secured. It is 86 miles north of Columbus, 
and 34 from Sandusky City ; and is situated nearly in the cen- 
ter of the county. Formerly, it was dull and unhealthy; but 
receiving many improvements, it has become an enterprising 
and healthy town, full of life and activity. Its population, ac- 
cording to the census of 1840, amounted to 728. It has since 
more than doubled. 

It contains two Lutheran, two Catholic, one Episcopal, one 
Methodist Episcopal, one Reformed Methodist, and one German 
Reformed church. Also, four hotels, one foundry, eight gro- 
ceries, nine tailor's-shops, three silversmiths, five saddlers, four 
cabinet-shops, four blacksmith' s-shops, five carriage-shops, two 
gunsmiths, four tin-shops, and one large, brick school-house. 

Its merchants, are R. W. Shawhan, Rufus W. Reid, the 
Messrs. Cronises, Rummell and Snyder, Robert Crum, Bald- 
win and Pride, Andrew Glenn, Jesse Shriver, RoUa Johnson, 
W. D. Scott, Geo. Taylor, Einstein and Hobbs, Howard and 
Nailor, and E. Ayres & Co. A book-store has also been open- 
ed of late, by Ebert and Seney. 

There are eight physicians in the place — Eli Dresbach, Hen- 
ry Kuhn, J. A. McFarland, Andrew Hepburn, James Fisher, 

B. Raymond, Jacob Staub, and S. W. Bricker. 

There are also twelve lawyers — Warren P. Noble, William 

C. Hedges, William H. Gibson, Sidney Sea, R. G. Penning- 
ton, William Lang, J. P. Pillars, Luther A. Hall, Jesse Stem, 
Richard Williams, Joel W. Wilson, and Abel Rawson. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY, 87 

On the 4th day of July, 1825, the commissioners of the 
county, Thomas Boyd, Benjamin Whitmore, and Doctor Dunn, 
held an extra session for the purpose of receiving proposals 
for the building of a jail, in the town of Tiffin. 

They contracted with Elijah Farquassan, as the lowest bid- 
der, for the sum of four hundred and fifty dollai'S. It was com- 
pleted and received by the eommlssionei's, the 4th of March, 
1826. This was a very unsubstantial place for the confine- 
ment of criminals, which may explain why so many cleared 
themselves^ at an early day. 

On the 4th of May, 1828, a quantity of land, by an act of 
Congress, was granted to this state, equal to one-half of five 
sections in width on each side of the Miami canal, between 
Dayton and the Maumee river, at the mouth of the Auglaize, 
so far as the Miami canal should be located through the public 
lands ; but reserving for the United States, each alternate sec- 
tion of the land unsold, to be selected by the commissioner of 
the land-office. By the fourth section of the same act, and un- 
der certain conditions, five hundred thousand acres of land in 
this state were granted to Ohio, to aid her in the construction of 
her canals. 

In order to dispose of the five hundred thousand acres so gran- 
ted, an act was passed by the General Assembl)?-, February 12, 
1829, entitled " An act to provide for the sale of certain lands 
granted to Ohio," and for this purpose, two land-offices were 
established, one of which was located at Tiffin. Here it re- 
mained, until 1837, when it was removed to Maumee. 

In April, 1828, the United States land-office, for the sale of 
lands in the Delaware land-district, was removed from Delaware 
and located at Tiffin, where it was continued until the next 
year, when it was removed to Bucyrus. 

On the 5th of January, 1832, the charter of the Mad River 
and Lake Erie Rail-road company was granted, by the Gener-^ 



88 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

al Assembly of Ohio. The line of this roeid was run the same 
year, by a Mr. Stansbury, assisted by Messrs. Morris of Penn- 
sylvania, and Van Antwerp of Albany, and extended from 
Sandusky City to Dayton, a distance of one-hundred and fifty- 
three miles. The road was commenced, in September, 1835, 
and finished, as far as Tifiin, in 1841. It is now nearly com- 
pleted, throughout its whole length. 

The benefits derived from this road, by the citizens of Sene- 
ca county are immense. A market is established at home, for 
their produce ; the value of land is enhanced ; and those tire- 
some and dreaded journeys to the lake for merchandise, and a 
market, are now obviated. It has given a powerful impulse to 
the onward progress of the county, both in activity and wealth. 

A few years ago, the whole country was a wilderness — the 
home of the Indians, who were trapping along the Sandusky 
and its tributaries, or hunting in the low-lands through which 
they flow. But their wigwams have vanished ; their council- 
fires have become extinguished, and their hunting-grounds the 
cultivated fields of the white man. The bones of their warri- 
ors and young men lie scattered in various places, tacitly tell- 
ing that once the red men were lords of the soil, and the right- 
ful owners of the land we occupy. 

Their war-dance has ceased. Their wild whoop and fierce 
yell, are heard no longer, in the silent woods. They have 
gone, and the wilderness has passed away. But a vestige of 
their strength remains, in the wilds of the far west ! 

A little later, and here and there a hardy adventurer is bra- 
ving the difficulties of an unsettled country, while the idea of a 
rail-road is not yet dreamed of. But noic, the powerful loco- 
motive with its immense train comes sweeping along upon the 
iron rails, bringing the luxuries of every clime — the labor of 
every nation — to our very doors ? 



CHAPTER V. 

Seueca Patriot — Prmting-press— Independe*it Chronicle — Tiffin Gazette 
— Van Bureuite — Seneca Advertiser — Whig Standard — Cholera — 
Court-house — Jail and Sherif 's house — Bank. 

On the 4th day of August, 1832, was issued the first number 
of the " Seneca Patriot," the first paper printed in the county. 
This sheet, E. Brown, editor, and J. H. Brown, proprietor, was 
offered to subscribers, at one dollar and twenty-five cents, per 
year, in advance. 

" We propose," says the editor, " to insert occasionally, as 
near as may be, an equal proportion of matter, to be published 
under the following general heads — Clay Politics^ Jackson 
Politics, and Anti-masonic Politics. By this means, each 
reader attached to the several parties, may find something suit- 
ed to his party taste, and political feelings." In three months 
from this, however, he broke up his neutrality, and came out a 
thorough Jackson Patriot. Says he, " we go for Democratic 
principles and Jackson, against all combinations." 

The history of the press, used in this office, is somewhat re- 
markable. It was brought to Washington, Pennsylvania, by a 
Mr. Colerick, prior to the year 1800, from some place on the 
Atlantic coast. It was removed from Washington, to Wells- 
burg, Virginia, about the year 1820, by J. P. McArdle. From 
thence, it was removed to Mount Vernon ; thence, to Clinton, 
and finally, from the latter place to Norwalk, in 1827. Here it 

became the property of the Messrs. Browns, and by them was 

8* 



.^9>» 



90 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

taken to Sandusky City in 1830; and at length brought to Tif- 
fin, in 1832. 

" It must be acknowledged, that this venerable press, in the 
service of half a century, has earned at least the reputation of 
a faithful ^herald of a noisy world.' It has no doubt embla- 
zoned to the world the achievements of many an eminent 
statesman, and probably chronicled, as they occurred, the 
stirring events which gave our government its national ex- 
istence. Commencing its tour of pilgrimage upon the At- 
lantic coast, it has wound its way to the fancied ^ far west.' It 
is, indeed, a relic of other days. He who would compare, at 
this day, that sturdy lever with the vast improvements made up- 
on its like, since its first days, would behold one of the most 
astonishing and remarkable evidences of human skill ever de- 
veloped in any branch of scientific or mechanical invention. 

" If this be the jirst press (and it doubtless was) that cross- 
ed the Alleghanies, it should become the property o^ the west ; 
and here be preserved, to attest the improvements made in the 
^ art preservative of arts.'' "* 

After the dissolution of the firm which published the " Sene- 
ca Patriot," Mr. Alonzo Rawson purchased the ofiice, and pub- 
lished the " Independent Chronicle." He disposed of the es- 
tablishment to J. F. Reed, who commenced the " Tiffin Ga- 
zette" which was published some time by him, and subsequent- 
ly by Joseph Howard, who was succeeded by S. A. Griswold, 
Esq., the latter gentleman discontinuing it in the fall of 1842. 

In 1840, a second printing-press was brought to Tiffin by an 
association, and in July of that year the first number of a pa- 
per entitled the " Van Burenite and Seneca County Adverti- 
ser," was issued by " H. Cronise and others." This paper was 
published until the fall of 1841, when it was discontinued. — 

*' Seneca Advertiser. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 91 

In the spring of 1842, the office was purchased by John G. 
Breslin, who issued the first number of the " Seneca Adverti- 
ser" on the 6th of May of the same year. The publication of 
this paper is still continued by the same proprietor, 

*' We shall advocate," says the editor, in the first number of 
this paper, " with a becoming zeal, and dignifiedly in manner, 
the great Democratic Republican principles, as established and 
taught by Thomas Jefferson. That ours is a government of 
specified and limited — not general powers, and ought so to be 
strictly observed to attain the ends for which it was established 
— all must admit. 

''The few and venerable patriots, who, when our govern- 
ment dated its existence, were upon the bright summit of glo- 
ry, and have lived till this late day, are willing to exclaim that 
our system of government has eminently exceeded the most 
sanguine expectations of those who achieved the glorious vic- 
tory upon which it was established, and become an object, not 
only of admiration, but of envy and emulation by all the 
world. 

" It is, therefore, our duty, rendered imperious by the posi- 
tion we occupy as a nation, to preserve for its character as pure 
and untarnished as the bright and illustrious spirit of liberty 
which dictated its existence among its framers ; and still serve 
as a beacon-light to the benighted, and a home for the oppress- 
ed of mankind, the object for which the blood of our forefath- 
ers and heroes — and labor of our sages have been bestowed to 
obtain. 

" In regard to the present federal administration, we unhesi- 
tatingly declare, that we will war against it and its measures an 
unyielding opposition. We would banish from us all preju- 
dice — cast ofi* all party predilection, and admonish the Ameri- 
can people to view the awful and deplorable condition of our 
country, brought about by the short federal predomination of 



®2 HXSTOBY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

one year, and ask themselves if this is the ^ change^ to which 
they were invited. 

" The Democracy, who in trying times have been entreat- 
ed to rally and rescue our government must appreciate the pres- 
ent as a crisis equally important, and prepare to restore her 
from the dominion of an unprincipled and reckless political 
party, who are now plunging her into debt, disgrace, and dis- 
honor, regardless of consequences. We shall endeavor to 
maintain a courteous, but decided position, in regard to the 
principles we intend promulgating, and in discussion have a 
strict observance for the truth of what shall appear in our pajper. 

" With these remarks, we throw ourselves upon the support 
of our fi'iends in the cause of Democracy, and by an honest, 
fearless and independent course, we hope to merit the support 
which they shall be pleased to bestow upon us." 

On the 18th of November, 1845, the fii-st number of the 
"Whig Standard," was issued by Geo. L. Wharton, editor. — 
This paper is still printed at Tiffin. The following is the con- 
clusion of the editor's " Salutatory :" 

" We shall enter our protest against the Locofoco party, and 
labor ardently for the preservation of those principles bequeath- 
ed to us by the patriots of the Revolution — the principles of the 
Whig party — a party whose origin was our country's Revolu- 
tion, and whose fidelity and patriotism achieved our Indepen- 
dence. Upon this broad platform we shall stand, adhering 
firmly to liberty, despising anarchy and despotism with an eye 
single to the interest of our country, feeling assured that, upon 
the integrity of the Whig party, rests our destiny as a nation." 

On the 9th day of June, 1832, the Cholera^ that fearful 
scourge of nations, made its appearance in America. It com- 
menced amongsome newly arrived Irish immigrants in Canada, 
and proceeded rapidly along the valleys of the St. Lawrence, 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 93 

Champlain and Hudson, and on the 26th of the same month, 
several cases occurred in New York. A great proportion of 
the inhabitants left the place in dismay ; but, notwithstanding 
the reduction of numbers, the ravages of the disease were ap- 
palling f It spread with great rapidity throughout the states of 
New York and Michigan, and along the Ohio and Mississippi 
to the gulf of Mexico. 

From New York, it went along the Atlantic coast, as far 
as North Carolina, and apparently followed the great routs of 
travel, both on land and water. It did not, however, make its 
appearance in this county, until the 19th of August, 1834. — 
Its ravages were confined entirely to the town of Tiffin, 
though some died in the country after they had left the place. 

The first person that fell a victim to this disease, was the wife 
of John Hubble. During its continuance, sixty-three died, and 
many more were attacked, but recovered. All that could, left 
the town, and scattered in various parts of the county. Those 
with whom it proved fatal, were principally of the poorer class 
of foreigners. One thing is quite remarkable. During the 
whole time that it prevailed in this county the wind blew from 
the north ; and as soon as it changed, the fatality ceased ! 

The most general disease which at present prevails in the 
county, and indeed ever has, since its first settlement, is hilious 
fever. This disease makes its appearance periodically^ com- 
mencing the latter part of summer, and continuing until the. 
close of autumn, prevailing more extensively, and with in- 
creased severity, during the month of September. It is more 
common along the Sandusky and its tributaries than in other 
sections of the county.* 

* A correspondent, speaking of early times, remarks : " It was then quite sickly- 
none of the comforts of life, such as groceries, or store-goods, were to be had nearer than 
Sandusky or Huron. Many suffered, and probably died, for the want of proper care.— 
There was no physician nearer than at Lower Sandusky, (Dr. Brainard,) and I have seen 
people carrying boards on their backs, two miles through the woods of which coffins wera 



94 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTT. 

No fatal and malignant epidemic, except the Cholera^ has 
ever scourged this section of country. Genuine Phthisis 
Pulmonalis^ or Consumption, Is of rare occurrence ; and, since 
the forests have been cleared ; since ihey have been turned 
into cultivated fields, Seneca has justly ranked as a healthy 
county. 

On the 17th day of January, 1834, the county commission- 
ers issued notice to receive proposals for erecting a court-house 
to be built in Tiffin. On the 13th of February, of the same 
year, the commissioners, after deliberating upon the proposals 
submitted, finally agreed and entered into a written contract 
with John Baugher, to build the same, for the sum of nine 
thousand, five hundred dollars. 

It was finished in the fall of 1836, and on the night of the 
21st of May, 1841, all, except its walls, were burned to the 
ground. A large amount of papers, books, &c., belonging to 
private individuals and of considerable value were consumed, 
but none of any worth belonging to the county were destroy- 
ed, except a few in the clerk's office, and some others of in- 
considerable value. 

On the 10th of June, of the same year, the commissioners 
ordered the re-building of the court-house, and on Friday, July 
23d, entered into an examination of proposals for doing the 
same. The lowest proposal was by John Baugher, who offer- 
ed to do the joiner-work for two thousand nine hundred and 
ninety dollars, which was accepted. Jacob Emrick contract- 
ed for the mason-work, at eight hundred dollars ; and Alison 
Phillips, for the plastering, at four hundred and fifty dollars. — 



to be made. But the connty soon began to settle rapidly, changing the face of the coun- 
try — society began to improve — the county-seat was located — physicians, mechanics and 
merchants came in — but sickness still prevailed, which for some time, was very discour? 
aging to early settlers, who were much indebted to Dra. Dresbaeh, Kuhn, and a few otb* 
VCB, for their valuable services," 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTT. 95 

In June, 1843, the building was completed a second time, the 
same walls standing that were built for the first house. These 
are two stories high ; and, with two feet of hewn stone for a 
foundation, measure thirty-three feet. To the top of the dome, 
it is seventy-one feet. This elegant building is fifty feet in 
front, and seventy in depth. The basement story is occupied 
by the several county officers. In the one above, is a large 
and commodious room for the holding of courts, and two jury 
rooms. 

On the 16th of May, 1843, the county commissioners agreed 
upon a plan for a county-jail and sherif 's house ; and, on the 
26th of June, of the same year, they entered into a written 
agreement with Ephraim Riker, of Erie county, for building 
the same. The former is of hewn stone ; the latter of brick ; 
and both, under one roof and constituting one building, are 
well calculated for the object for which they were built. 

On the 12th of July, 1847, Samuel Waggoner, Benjamin 
Tomb, Rufus W. Reid, Alfred Johnson, Daniel Brown, Will- 
iam M. Buel, Daniel Smith, William Fleet, R. G. Pennington 
and William H. Gibson, subscribed stock to the amount of fif- 
ty thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars 
each, and filed in the proper office their application for an in- 
dependent bank, agreeably to the provisions of an act entitled 
"An act to incorporate the State Bank of Ohio, and other ban- 
king companies,'' passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, 
February 24th, 1847. 

On the 2d day of August, of the same year, and during the 
pending of the application before the bank-commissioners, the 
above named persons, with others as their associates, enlarged 
the capital stock of the bank to one hundred thousand dollars, 
and filed accordingly, an amended application, which was act- 
ed upon by the board of commissioners, and an independent 
bank, to be located at Tiffin, with a capital of one hundre*' 



96 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

thousand dollars, was granted them on the 9th of August of the 
same year. 

The bank was organized by electing Benjamin Tomb, Sam- 
uel Waggoner, William M. Buel, Rufus W. Reid, and R. G. 
Pennington, directors ; who afterwards elected Benjamin 
Tomb,* president, and R. G. Pennington, cashier, pro tern. — 
William E. Chittenden, has since been elected permanently, 
as cashier of the bank. The notes of the bank are provided 
by the treasurer of state, as well as those of all independent 
banks, at the expense of the several banks, and are registered 
at the treasurer's office, and obtained upon the order of the di- 
rectors of the several banks, upon depositing with the treasurer 
certificates of the funded debt of the state, or of the United 
States, agreeably to the terms of the statute, in this behalf. 

Annual meetings for the election of officers, are held on the 
first Monday of' January in each year . The bank commen- 
ced business, on the 13th day of November, 1847, and is now 
in successful operation. The notes, the engravings of which 
are neatly executed, are of four denominations — ones, threes, 
fives and tens. 

* On Tuesday, the 8th of February, 1848, the office of president became vacant, by the 
resignation of Mr, Tomb : whereupon, Abel Rawson, Esq., was elected to fill the va- 
cancy. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Journey of the Welches—John Vanmeter— Eden Township— First phy- 
sician — Mehnore. 

In the month of February, 1819, Thomas and Hugh Welch 
started from Huron county to seek a home in the wilds of Sen- 
eca. Having reached the limits of the county, as since defi- 
ned, they soon struck a beautiful stream of water, where they 
encamped tor the niglit. 

The sight of the lofty forest-trees filled them with admira- 
tion ; and they were not a little surprised to find the wilder- 
ness already green with leeks, and a modest wild-flower, here 
and there, " wasting its fragrance" in the silent woods ! The 
wdde-spreading branches of the oak, black-walnut, hickory and 
sycamore, partially protected the earth from the. severity of 
winter. This was supposed to induce the early appearance of 
vernal vegetation. 

The stream where they had encamped, was Honey creek.— 
The next morning, they followed its course downwards, until 
they arrived within the present limits of Eden township.— 
Near what is now the residence of William Fleet, they came 
upon a band of the Seneca Indians employed in making sugar, 
and with them, they again encamped for the night. The next 
morning, pursuingtheir journey down the creek, they at length 
arrived at a village of Mohawk Indians, consisting of about 
twenty log huts, pleasantly situated upon both sides of the 



98 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

stream. This village was located upon a tract of land of a 
thousand acres,* granted at the treaty of the Miami of Lake 
Erie to one John Vanmeter, a v/hite man, and to his wife's two 
brothers. 

Vanmeter was captured by the Wyandot Indians, in the 
month of March, 1778, at the age of five. This happened 
within a mile of West Liberty, in the state of Virginia. The 
people in the neighborhood, having been frequently alarmed 
by Indian aggressions, had assembled for the purpose of 
building a fort, to protect themselves from savage cruelty. 
It was a beautiful day in the spring of the year, and two of 
the elder boys of the family were directed to proceed to a 
"chopping," and arrange som.e brands. John accompanied 
them, and the father proceeded to the fort. The boys had but 
just commenced their work, when they were suddenly beset by 
a party of Indians. The elder boys made good their escape, 
but John was easily captured. The Indians then directed 
their course to the house of Vanmeter, set it on fire, murder- 
ed his wife and daughter, and immediately fled to the wilder- 
ness, carrying with them their captive boy. 

He ever afterwards lived among the Indians ; completely 
forgetting his native tongue, though he learned it again, before 
he died, so as to converse quite fluently. He was afterwards 
induced to visit his relatives and friends; but refused to remain 
among them, "preferring," as he said, " the innocent and un- 
restrained indulgences of the Indian's life, to the arbitrary re- 
straints of civilized society." Vanmeter was a man of more 
than ordinary decision of character; of a benevolent disposi- 
tion, and friendly to the whites. Owning a large stock of 
cattle and several horses, eai'ly settlers relied much upon his 
generosity ; and it was not in vain, that they sought relief at his 

* Now owned by Lloyd Norris. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 99 

hands, in times of distress and destitution. He married a wo- 
man of the Seneca nation, (a relative of the celebrated Brandt 
whose name is well known in the state of New York,) and di- 
ed a few years since, on the grant made him by the United 
States. 

In 1829, the Indians of this village, who were a remnant of 
the Mohawk tribe, joined the Senecas and left the county with 
the latter. Thomas Brandt, one of these Indians, and a broth- 
er-in-law of Vanmeter, was a captain in the United States ser- 
vice, during the last war, and fought at the battle of Browns- 
town. 

The Welches were welcomed by Vanmeter, with every 
demonstration of friendship ; and making know^n to him their 
business, they were directed to a tract of land which he repre- 
sented as of excellent soil. Being well suited with it, both as 
to quality and location, they resolved to proceed no farther.-— 
Flore commenced the first settlement in Eden township, which 
was upon the farm now owned by David Olmsted. In June, 
of the same year, they were joined by two other brothers, Mar- 
tin and John Welch. 

At that time, their nearest neighbor was Erastus Botoe, at 
Oakley, six miles distant. On the north, the nearest settle- 
ment was at Lower Sandusky. On the south, there was a 
house erected at the point where the Morrison state road now 
crosses the Sandusky river, in Wyandot (then Crawford) coun- 
ty ; and on the east, it was nearly twenty miles to a habitation. 
They cut out, for their own convenience, a wagon-road, lead- 
ing from a point a mile north of the center of Norwich town- 
ship, Huron county, and running near the site of the present 
town of Republic, to their settlement in Eden. This was the 
first track, in imitation of a highv/ay, east of the Sandusky 
river within the limits of the county. Soon afterward, Thomas 



100 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

Welch died. The other brothers are now residents of Wyan- 
dot county. 

Other settlers now located upon Honey creek ; and before 
the "sales" at Delaware, on the 3d of August, 1821, there 
were twelve squatters upon the land of the United States, with- 
in the present limits of Eden township. These were the 
W^elches, together with Ira Holmes from Chenango county, 
New York, Daniel Pratt, Henry Craw, Samuel Knapp, Chris- 
topher Sponknable, William Clark,* Case Brown, from Kinder- 
hook, Columbia county, New York, and John Searles. 

Soon after the "sales," William Cornell, Daniel Hough, M. 
D., John Gibson, Ezra Brown, Thomas Baker, Philip Bretz, 
Richard Jaqua, and John Downs,-]- settled in Eden township, 

*-Mr. Clark was from Cayuga county, New York. His daughter, [Sarahj became the 
AVife of James Mathers, which was the first marriage in the county. The two have since 
removed to California. The ceremony was performed by David Smith, Esq., first justice 
in the county. Mr Smith was at that time a resident of Fort Seneca — now Pleasant — 
township, and has since deceased. 

t The following story — well authenticated — may not be altogether unattractive to juve- 
nile readers : 

Many years ago, while the country was a wilderness, the few inhabitants along the 
banks cf Honey creek -were obliged to get their grinding done at the old Indian mill, at 
Upper Sandusky. 

It was in the fall of the year, and although the Indians at that time were numerous, 
their presence was not ordinarily a source of alarm to the early settlers, who had become 
familiar with their habits and dispositions. One morning, three lads, each with his horse 
and grist, started for the mill. They had just entered Crawford [now Wyandot] county, 
when the great abundance of hickory-nuts upon tlie ground, attracted their attention. — 
Dismounting, they began to fill their pockets, and while thus engaged, one of them, hear- 
ing a noise, raised his head, and to his great terror, saw just in advance, an Indian, stan- 
ding by a tree, with a gun in his hand, and a dog by his side. The Indian, who doubtless 
had concluded to have some sport with the boys, without intending to harm them, re- 
mained silent, waiting for a good opportunity to accomplish his object. The other lad» 
were not long ignorant of his nresence ; and the next moment were upon their horses, 
dashing through the woods at full speed. The Indian thereupon blew a shrill whistle 
upon his charger, at the same time leveling his gun at the terrified boys. This was 
enough. Their fright was complete. The Indian uttering a fierce yell, and letting loose 
his dog, followed at full speed. This was too much ; first one, then another of their 
grists was thrown otF. Relieved of their burdens, and pressing forward, they were not 
long in leaving the Indian and his dog, far behind. The boys, however, did not in the 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY, 101 

and became permanent residents. John Searles and Case 
Brown have since deceased — the latter, the 8th of February, 
1843. 

In 1820, Eden was surveyed into sections and quarter-sec- 
tions by James T. Worthington, assisted by David Risdon. — 
In 1821, it was organized into a separate and distinct township, 
receiving its name from the quality of the soil, which is re- 
markably fertile, especially that which borders on Honey creek. 
The Jirst township election, was held the 4th of June, of the 
same year, at the house of John Searles.* 

On the 6th of March, 1822, Selden Graves, ^r^^ practicing 
physician in the county, settled in Edea township, upon the 
farm where he now resides. His ride soon extended over the 
whole of Seneca, and occasionally into the adjoining counties 
of Huron and Crawford. 

Eden now began to settle rapidly. The great fertility of 
the soil, attracted emigrants from various parts, especially from 
the state of New York ; and at the organization of the county 
in 1824, its population exceeded that of either of the other 
townships. In 1830, it contained 819 inhabitants ; in 1840, 
they had increased to 1471. It has since steadily augmented both 
in population and wealth ; numbering among its enterprising 
farmers — Richard Baker, George Denison, Thomas Baker, 



least relax their speed, until they arrived at the residence of a white man, on the San- 
dusky river, the only one throughout the whole distance, 

Through his importunities, they reluctantly consented to return with him for their 
grists, which were found near the trail ; the Indian having blazed two trees against 
which he had placed them. On their return ftom the mill, they could not be induced to 
take the same rout ; but sought their homes by the circuitous way of Tyemochetee. 

*The following was the successful ticket : David Clark, clerk ; John Welch, James 
Mathers, and Henry Craw, trustees ; Ira Holmes, and John Searles, overseers of the 
poor ; Daniel Pratt, and John Searles, fence-viewers ; John Searles, treasurer ; Hugh 
Welch, and Ira Holmes, appraisers ; Samuel Knapp, and John Welch, supervisors : 
Thomas Welch, constable. 

9* 



102 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

Selden Graves, Lloyd Norris, Sylvanus iVrnold, John Baker, 
William Fleet, James Watson, Jesse Koler, William Watson, 
David Olmsted, Benjamin Bnindage, Daniel W. Eastman, Phil- 
ip Bretz, John Kagy, Adam Pennington, John Bretz, Jonah 
Brown, John Gibson, Henry Shauk, John Crum, Jacob Price, 
John Downs, Peter Springer, Jacob Andre, Samuel Kennedy, 
and many others. 

In 1824, a town was surveyed in this township, where the 
Kilbourn road crosses Honey creek, to which the surveyor, 
Col. James Kilbourn, gave the name of Melmore. This word 
is a fantastic compound of the Latin 7?zeZ, which signifies honey, 
and the English adjective, more; from the circumstance of the 
]>lace being situated upon Honey creek.* 

*The rollovving piece of poetry, compojeu by Mr. Kilbourn, on !iis survey of this 
town, exliibif? tlie spirit of the times : 

MELMORE. 

Where houoy-dews from the mild Heaven, 

Distil on the foliage below — 

Where Honey creek's waters are given, 

T' enrich the sweet vales as they flow — 

Where plaj-ful, the heart-cheering breeze 

Sweeps o'er the sweet bosom of flowers — • 

There Melmore is seen, on a hill, 

W'ith fragrance and health in her bowers. 

This country and village to prove, 
Of pleasure and health the abode, 
Kind Nature has formed in her, love. 
And on her good children bestowed. 
The fees to her agents ore small. 
For titles in form which they give ; 
Then come, men of enterprise— all » 
Accept, and iu happiness live. 

Merchants and laborers come, 
A fortune is offered you near ; 
Hero malic it your permanent home, 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 103 

The land upon which this town is located, was entered at the 
Delaware land-office, by Case Brown, afterwards one of its 
proprietors. John C. Jones erected the first dwelling-house 
upon the plat. He died here, in 1828. The first public house 
was kept by Joshua D. Munsel, since deceased. The first 
store in this town was opened by Buckley Hutchins, who set- 
tled here, September 28th, 1824, where he has ever since re- 
sided. He hec^me first post-master, holding that office for sev- 
eral years, until succeeded by Philip J. Price, the present in- 
cumbent. 

James M. Stevens, an early settler, became owner of many 
of the lots of land in this town, which, upon his death, in 1830, 
descended to his heirs. James Gray, William Ireland, Daniel 
M. Bate (for many years a practicing physician in this town) 
and John Larabertson, Esq., were also early settlers, and are 
still residents of the place. 

Melmore is pleasantly situated, upon a high bank of the 
creek ; and may be considered one of the healthiest villages in 
the county. Its population in 1830, was 77. It has since in- 
creased to 250. It contains forty dwellings, two stores, two 



The country will cherish you here. 
Come, taste the Melmorean springs, 
Possess the Melmorean lands, 
Wealth, honor, and pleasure they'll bring, 
To strengthen your hearts and your hands. 

So healthy the country is, round. 
That doctors have little to do ; 
So moral the people are found, 
They live v^^ithout mhiislcrs, too : 
So honest our neighbors we call, 
So peaceful and happy at home. 
They've need of no lawyers at all. 
And none are desired to come. 



104 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, 

taverns, two tailor's-shops, three shoe-shops, three blacksmith's- 
shops, one cabinet shop, one saddler and one carriage-shop. — 
It contains also, one Presbyterian, and one Methodist Episcopal 
church. At the raising of the latter, on the 16th of July, 
1836, Amroy Butterfield, father of the writer, was instantly 
killed by the falling of a bent. 

There are three physicians located in this town ; Henry 
Ladd, Robert McD. Gibson, and Timothy M. Smith. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Camp Seneca — Indian council — Fort Meigs — Fort Steplionson — General 
Harrison at Camp Seneca — Grand Camp — Perry's Victory. 

About the 1st of July, 1&^13, a detachment of men, under 
the command of Gen. William Henry Harrison, erected a 
stockade upon the west bank .of the Sandusky river, within the 
present limits of Pleasant township, in this county, to which 
was given the name of " Camp Seneca^ 

It was situated upon a bank, about forty feet above the bed 
of the- river, close to the old army road ; and containing with- 
in the enclosure an acre and a half of ground. It was built 
nearly in the form of a square, surrounded by pickets consist- 
ing of oak timbers, a foot in thickness, and twelve feet high. — 
Between the ground and the river, are several springs of wa- 
ter ; to, and around one of which, the pickets extended. 

On the east side of the camp, were two rows of pickets, 
about six feet apart, the space being filled with dirt. On the 
south was a single row of pickets; and a little beyond, is a deep 
ravine, between which and the camp an embankment was 
thrown up, which is still partially visible. On the west, was a 
single row of pickets, with a ditch about six feet deep, and 
twelve feet wide. On the north, there was likewise a deep 
ditch with an embankment, upon the top of which were placed 
the pickets. 

A block-house was erected at the south-west corner, sixteen 
feet high, and about twenty-five feet square, no vestiges of 



106 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

which remain. It consisted of large logs, with port-holes for 
cannon and small arms, and was located in such a manner as 
to completely command the ditch. There was a projection at 
the north-east corner, strongly picketed, probably used as a 
magazine; and two small block-houses, at each of the other 
corners, with port-holes.* 

Previous to the building of this camp, and while at Frank- 
linton, in .Tune, 1813, General Harrison held a council with 
the chiefs of the friendly Indians, of the Delaware, Shawanese 
Wyandot utid Seneca tribes, in which he stated to them that the 
time had arrived for all those who were willing to engage in 
the w^ar, "to take a decided stand for or against the United 
States'" — that the president wished no false friends — that the 
proposal of Proctor to exchange the Kentucky militia for the 
tribes incur friendship, indicated thrit he had received some 
hint of their willingness, to take up the tomahawk against us ; 
and that to give the United States a proof of their good dispo- 
sition, they must remove with their families into the interior, 
or the warriors must accompany him in the ensuing campaign, 
and fight for the United States. To the latter condition, the 
chiefs and warriors unanimously agreed ; and said they had 
long been anxious for an invitation to fight for the Americans. 
Tarhe, the oldest Indian in the western country, who represen- 
ted all the tribes, professed in their name the most indissoluble 
friendship for the United States. General Harrison then told 
them he would let them know when they would be wanted in 
the service : " but you must conform to our mode of warfare. 
You are not to kill defenseless prisoners, old men, women, or 
children." He added, that by their conduct he w^ould be able 
to tell, whether the British could restrain the Indians from such 

* The land upon which Camp Seneca was built, is now owned by Joel Risdon, and R. 
M. Titus. It is about nine miles from Lower Sandusky, and one mile south of the nor- 
thern boundary of the county. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 107 

horrible cruelty. For if the Indians fighting with him, would 
forbear such conduct, it would prove, that the British could al- 
so restrain theirs if they wished to do it. He humorously told 
them he had been informed that General Proctor had promised 
to deliver him into the hands of Tecumthe, if he succeeded 
against Fort Meigs, to be treated as that warrior might think 
proper.* "Now, if I can succeed in taking Proctor, you shall 
shall have him for your prisoner, provided you will agree to 
treat him as a squaw, and only put petticoats upon him ; for he 
must be a coward who would kill a defenseless prisoner, "f 

In the month of June, while at Franklinton, General Harri- 
son was informed that Fort Meigs was again invested. Al- 
though he doubted the intention of the enemy to attack that 
place, at this time, he promptly started a reinforcement to its 
relief, and on the 28th, reached there in person. It proved to 
be a false alarm, and the general returned to Lower Sandusky, 
on the first of July, and on the following day set off* for Cleve- 
land, on business connected with the public stores, and the 
building of boats for transporting the army across the lake.— 
On the 23d, a body of eight hundred Indians were seen to pass 
Fort Meigs, for the purpose, it was supposed, of attacking Fort 
Winchester. Two days afterwards, the British and Indians 
appeared in great numbers before Fort Meigs, then commanded 
by General Clay. In the meantime. Captain Oliver, accompa- 

* VTe find the following note in Dawson, on this subject : "There is no doubt that 
when Proctor made the arrangement for the attack on Fort Meigs with Tecumthe, the 
latter insisted, and the former agreed, that General Harrison, and all who fought at Tip- 
pecanoe, should be given up to the Indians to be burned. Major Ball, of the dragoons 
ascertained this fact from the prisoners, deserters and Indians, all of whom agreed toils 
truth." 

On the supposition that this statement be true, it proves that Tecumthe meditated the 
violation of the agreement he made with General Harrison, at Vincennes, in ISIO, that 
in the event of a war, prisoners, and women and children should be protected. On no 
other occasion is he known to have departed from the spirit of his engagement, 

t M'Afee, 



108 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

nied by Captain McCune, was sent to apprise the commander- 
in-chief of the fact ; and reached him at Lower Sandusky, 
with certain information that the united force of the enemy, 
principally Indians, was not less than five thousand — a greater 
number than had ever before assembled on any occasion during 
the war. General Harrison, with remarkable accuracy of 
judgment, as the result proved, came to the conclusion, that 
this investment of Fort Meigs was a feint, m.ade by the enemy, 
to call his attention to that place, while Lower Sandusky or 
Cleveland, was really the point on which the next attack would 
be made. He immediately removed his head-quarters to Camp 
Seneca, nine miles above Lower Sandusky. From this place 
he could fall back and protect Upper Sandusky, or pass by a 
secret rout, to the relief of Fort Meigs — two points to be de- 
fended — Lower Sandusky being of comparatively little impor- 
tance. Major Croghan was left at Lower Sandusky, with one 
hundred and sixty regulars, for the defense of Fort Stephen- 
son. There were about six hundred troops at Camp Seneca — 
a force too small to advance upon Fort Meigs. Captain Mc- 
Cune was sent back to General Clay, with the information, 
that as early as the commander-in-chief could collect a suffi- 
cient number of troops, he would relieve the fort. The day 
after the return of the express, the enemy raised the siege. — 
As had been anticipated by General Harrison, the British sailed 
round into Sandusky Bay, while the Indians marched across 
the swamps of Portage river, to aid in the projected attack on 
Lower Sandusky. 

As early as the 21st of April, of this year. General Harri- 
son, in a letter to the secretary of war, in speaking of the ul- 
terior operations of the campaign, remarked : "I shall cause 
the movements of the enem.y to be narrowly watched ; but in 
the event of their landing at Lower Sandusky, that post cannot 
be saved. I will direct it in such an event to be evacuated. — 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 109 

The stores there are not of much consequence, excepting 
about five hundred stand of arms, which I will cause to be re- 
moved as soon as the roads are practicable — at present it is im- 
possible." These arms were subsequently removed. Just be- 
fore the express from Fort Meigs reached General Harrison, 
he in company with Major Croghan and other officers, had ex- 
amined Fort Stephenson, and concluded that it could not be 
defended against heavy artillery ; and, if the British should 
approach it by water — which would raise a presumption, that 
they h-ad brought their heavy artillery — the fort must be aban- 
doned and burnt, provided a retreat could be effected with safe- 
ty. In the orders left with Major Croghan, it was stated : — 
" Should the British troops approach you in force with cannon, 
and you can discover them in time to effect a retreat, you will 
do so immediately, destroying all the public stores.* You must 
be aware, that the attempt to retreat in the face of an Indian 
force, would be vain. Against such an enemy, your garri- 
son would be safe, however great the number." 

On the 2Sth, General Harrison was informed that the siege 
of Fort Meigs had been abandoned. The scouts sent out by 
him, reported that from the indications, they believed an attack 
was meditated by the Indians, then lying in numbers on the 
south side of Fort Meigs, upon Upper Sandusky. Upon this 
information, a council of war was called, composed of Mc Ar- 
thur, Cass, Ball, Paul, Wood, Hukill, Holmes and Graham, 
Who were unanimously of opinion, that as Fort Stephenson 
was untenable against heavy artillery, and as it was relatively 
an unimportant post, that the garrison should not be reinforc- 
ed, but withdrawn, and the place destroyed. The following 
order was forthwith sent to Major Croghan : " Sir : Immedi- 
ately on receiving this letter, you will abandon Fort Stephen- 

* The amount of stores at this place was inconsiderable ; every thing valuable had 
been previously removed. 

10 



110 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

son, set fire to it, and repair with your command this night to 
head-quarters. Cross the river, and come up on the other side. 
If you should find, or deem it impracticable to make good your 
march to this place, take the road to Huron, and pursue it with 
the utmost circumspection and dispatch." The bearer of this 
dispatch losing his way, it did not reach Major Croghan until 
eleven o'clock of the next day. The major was then of opin- 
ion that he could not retreat with safety, as the Indians were 
around the fort, in considerable numbers. A majority of his 
officers concurred in the opinion that to retreat was unsafe, and 
that the post could be maintained at least until further instruc- 
tions were received from head-quarters. The major, therefore, 
promptty returned the following answer : " Sir : I have just 
received yours of yesterday, ten o'clock, P. M., ordering me 
to destroy this place, and make good my retreat, which was re- 
ceived too late to be carried into execution. We have deter- 
mined to maintain this place, and, by Heavens, we can." — 
The strong language of this note, was used on the supposition 
that it might fall into the hands of the enemy. It reached the 
general on the same day, who, not fully understanding the mo- 
tives under which it was written, sent Colonel Wells next mor- 
ning, escorted by Colonel Ball, and a detachment of dragoons, 
with the following order : 

"July 30th, 1813, 

*' Sir — The general has just received your letter of this date, inform- 
ing him that you had thought proper to disobey the order issued from this 
office, and delivered to you this morning. It appears that the information 
which dictated the order was incorrect ; and as you did not receive it in 
the night, as was expected, it might have been proper that you should 
have reported the circumstance and your situation, before you proceeded 
to its execution. This might have been passed over ; but I am directed 
to say to you, that an officer who presumes to aver, that he has made his 
resolution, and that he will act in direct opposition to the orders of his 
general, can no longer be intrusted with a separate command. Colonel 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. Ill 

Wells is sent to relieve you. You will deliver the command to him, and 
repair with Colonel Ball's squadron, to this place. By command, &c. 
"A. H. HOLMES, Ass't. Adjutant General." 

In passing down, the dragoons met with a party of twenty 
Indians, and killed seventeen of them. When Major Croghan 
reached head-quarters, he explained to the general his motives 
in writing the note, which were deemed satisfactory. In the 
mean-time, the scouts had reported to General Harrison, that 
the Indians had not gone in the direction of Upper Sandusky. 
Upon receiving this information. Major Croghan was directed 
to resume his post, with written instructions of the same im- 
port as had been previously given. 

On the evening of the 31st of July, some scouts sent out by 
General Harrison, discovered the British within twenty miles 
of Fort Stephenson, approaching the place by water. It was 
after twelve o'clock, however, on the next day, August 1st, be- 
fore these scouts, in returning to Camp Seneca, by Lower San- 
dusky, communicated this information to Major Croghan, and 
in a few hours afterwards the fort was actually invested by the 
British and Indians. A flag was now sent from the enemy de- 
manding a surrender. The messenger was informed that the 
commandant and garrison were determined to defend it to the 
last extremity. The attack was promptly commenced, and 
gallantly sustained. The result was glorious to the American 
arms, and covered the gallant Croghan and his officers and 
men, with honor. Only one man was killed, and but seven 
wounded, belonging to the garrison. The loss of the enemy 
was not less than one hundred and fifty, in killed and wound- 
ed. 

General Harrison, when informed of the attack on Fort Ste- 
phenson, paused before moving to its relief. He was hourly 
expecting considerable reinforcements from the interior, but 
had not with him at Camp Seneca, a disposable force of more 



112 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTif. 

than eight hundred men, the fifth of whom were cavalry, who, 
in the thick woods extending the greater part of the way, be- 
tween that place and Lower Sandusky, would have been of lit- 
tle use. The remainder of these eight hundred men were raw 
recruits. To have marched upon an enemy, several thousand 
strong, with such a force, would, in all human probability, have 
resulted in its total destruction. Again, in moving to Fort 
Stephenson, he must necessarily leave the camp at Seneca with 
one hundred and fifty sick soldiers in it, exposed to the Indian 
tomahawk ; while Upper Sandusky, at which were ten thou- 
sand barrels of flour, besides other supplies of public stores, 
indispensable for the main objects of the campaign, was equal- 
ly liable to be attacked and destroyed by Tecumthe, who, with 
two thousand warriors, was then lying in the swamp, between 
that point and Fort Meigs, ready to strike upon either Camp 
Seneca or Upper Sandusky, in the event of General Harri- 
son's moving to Fort Stephenson. Under these circumstances, 
he was bound by every military principle, to retain that posi- 
tion in which he could, with the most certainty, accomplish the 
best results. He therefore determined to wait, for a time, at 
least, the progress of events, hoping that reinforcements would 
arrive before the fort could be reduced. On the night of the 
2d, he was informed that the enemy was retreating, and early 
next morning having in the night been reinforced by three 
hundred Ohio militia, he set out for the fort attended by the 
dragoons, and directing the remainder of the disposable force 
to follow under Generals Cass and McArthur. Upon reaching 
the fort, the general was told by a wounded sergeant of the 
British troops, that Tecumthe was in the swamp, south of Fort 
Meigs, ready to strike at Upper Sandusky, on the first oppor- 
tunity. This information, corroborative of what he had before 
heard, induced the commander-in-chief to direct General Mc- 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, 113 

Arthur, who had not yet reached the fort, to return to Camp 
Seneca with all possible dispatch. 

[n his official report of this aflair, General Harrison said : 
" It will not be among the least of General Proctor's mortifica- 
tions to find that he has been baffled by a youth, who has just 
passed his twenty-first year. He is, however, a hero worthy 
of his gallant uncle, George R. Clark." The president imme- 
diately conferred the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel, on Ma- 
jor Croghan. 

Shortly afterwards an attack was made in some public prints 
upon the conduct of General Harrison, in regard to the defense 
of Fort Stephenson. Major Croghan promptly replied to it, 
by forwarding to a newspaper in Cincinnati, a communication 
under date of Lower Sandusky, August 27th, 1813, in which 
he gives the reason already stated, for disobeying General Har-" 
rison's order to destroy the fort, and retreat to Camp Seneca, 
and says : 

*' I have with much regret seen in some of the public prints, 
such misrepresentations respecting my refusal to evacuate this 
post, as are calculated not only to injure tne in the estimation of 
military men, but also to excite unfavorable impressions as to 
the propriety of General Harrison's conduct relative to this af- 
fair. 

" His character as a military man is too well established to 
need my approbation or support. But his public services enti- 
tle him at least to common justice. This affair does not fur- 
nish cause of reproach. If public opinion has been lately mis- 
led respecting his late conduct, it will require but a moment's 
cool, dispassionate reflection, to convince them of its proprie- 
ty. The measures recently adopted by him, so far from de- 
serving censure, are the clearest proofs of his keen penetra- 
tion and able generalship." 

10* 



114 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

The letter concludes with the following paragraphs, alike 
honorable to the soldier and the gentleman : 

"It would be insincere to say that I am not flattered by the 
many handsome things which have been said about the defense 
which was made by the troops under my command ; but I de- 
sire no plaudits which are bestowed upon me, at the expense of 
General Harrison. 

" I have at all times enjoyed his confidence, so far as my 
rank in the army entitled me to it. And on proper occasions 
received his marked attention. I have felt the warmest attach- 
ment for him as a man, and my confidence in him as an ahle 
commander remains unshaken. I feel every assurance that he 
will at all times, do me ample justice ; and nothing could give 
me more pain than to see his enemies seize upon this occasion 
to deal out their unfriendly feelings and acrimonious dislike — 
and as long as he continues (as in my humble opinion he has 
hitherto done) to make the wisest arrangements and most judi- 
cious disposition, which the forces under his command will jus- 
tify, I shall not hesitate to unite with the army in bestowing up- 
on him that confidence which he so richly merits, and which 
has on no occasion been withheld." 

As soon as this invasion of the territory of Ohio was known, 
Governor Meigs called upon the militia of the state to repel 
the enemy. The appeal was promptly and nobly responded to, 
but the abandonment of the siege of Fort Meigs, and the gal- 
lant defense of Fort Stephenson, rendered their services unne- 
cessary. When the militia were disbanded, without an oppor- 
tunity of meeting the foe, or being employed in the main expe- 
dition against Canada, there was much discontent among them. 
To allay this feeling. General Harrison met them at Upper San- 
dusky ; and, through the governor, made known the reasons 
for their being disbanded. These were, mainly, that to retain 
in camp all the Ohio troops then embodied, was impossible, as 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 115 

the embarkation on the lake could not be effected under fifteen 
or eighteen days, and so large a force, even for a short time, 
would consume the provisions provided for the support of the 
campaign. The delay in moving upon Canada arose from a 
cause which General Harrison could not then publicly explain, 
lest it should reach the enemy. Under the plan of the cam- 
paign, he was not to cross the lake until he had the full co-ope- 
ration of Commodore Perry's fleet. The period when this 
could be obtained, was uncertain. Under such circumstances, 
the retention of so large a body of militia, in camp, would have 
defeated the plan of the campaign. At the same time, the 
commander-in-chief bore his testimony to the fact, that the ex- 
ertions made by Governor Meigs to assemble the militia, and 
the promptitude with which the call had been met, was truly 
astonishing, and reflected the highest credit on the state. — 
Some of the disbanded officers, however, met together, not- 
withstanding this explanation, and in a moment of popular dis- 
content, passed resolutions to the effect, that they were greatly 
disappointed in not being kept in service, and that there was 
something mysterious in the conduct of General Harrison. — 
The cool reflection of these officers, and a subsequent knowl- 
edge of the whole plan of the campaign, have long since caus- 
ed them to regret their course on this occasion ; and, to admit 
with a frankness honorable to their character, that they had 
done great injustice to the commander-in-chief. 

Active preparations for the expedition against Upper Cana- 
da were now making. The call by General Harrison, on the 
governor of Kentucky, for volunteers, was promptly respond- 
ed to, by the venerable Shelby, who, in a patriotic appeal to 
the people of that state, appointed the 31st of August for the 
rendezvous of the troops at Newport. Public attention was 
now directed with great intenseness, to the rival fleets on Lake 
Erie. About the 2d of August, the vessels under Commodore 



116 \ HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTT. 

Perry were finally equipped. On the 5th, General Harrison 
visited the fleet, and furnished the commander with a compa- 
ny of soldiers, to act as marines, who were afterwards ack- 
nowledged to have performed a valuable service. Col. John- 
son, with his mounted regiment, was recalled from Kentucky 
to the frontiers. Every exertion was made along the whole 
line from Cleveland to Fort Meigs, to hasten on the stores, 
while Governor Shelby was steadily advancing with a strong 
body of mounted men towards the scene of action. In the 
midst of these active preparations, in which the energy of the 
commander-in-chief was everywhere perceptible, he received, 
on the 12th of September, at Seneca, a note in which Commo- 
dore Perry says : 

" We have met the enemy and they are ours — two ships, 
two brigs, one schooner, and a sloop." 

This important and glorious news spread, with the rapidity 
of an electric shock, throughout the whole line of the army, 
and as it reached the various detachments, pressing on to the 
shore of the lake, it quickened their speed, and awakened a 
burning desire to achieve a victory equally brilliant, over the 
enemy under Proctor. 

On the 20th, the embarkation commenced from the mouth 
of Portage river. On the 26th, the army reached the Middle 
Sister — having touched at Put-in-bay, where a general order of 
debarkation, of march and of battle, was issued by the com- 
mander-in-chief, which, for lucid minuteness and military acu- 
men, has been pronounced by competent judges, to be unsur- 
passed in its kind. On the morning of the 27th, the final em- 
barkation of the army commenced, in sixteen vessels, and up- 
wards of eighty boats. The sun shone in all his autumnal 
beauty, and a gentle breeze hastened on the ships to that shore, 
on which it was anticipated the banner of our country would 
have to be planted, amid the thunder of British arms, and the 



HISTORY or SENECA COUNTY. lit 

yells of ferocious Indians. While moving over the bosom of 
the lake — every eye enchanted with the magnificence of the 
scene, and every heart panting for the coming opportunity of 
avenging their country's wrongs — the beloved commander-in- 
chief caused the following address to bo delivered to his army : 

"The general entreats his brave troops to remember, that 
they are the sons of sires whose fame is immortal ; that they 
are to fight for the rights of their insulted country^ while their 
opponents combat for the unjust pretensions of a master. — 
Kentuckians ! remember the River Raisin ; but remember it 
only whilst victory is suspended. The i*evenge of a soldier 
cannot be gratified upon a fallen enemy." 

When this stirring appeal was read, on each vessel, and in 
each boat, the shouts of "Harrison and victory," rose, succes- 
sively, from an army of freemen, and went booming over the 
rippling waters. The landing was effected at four o'clock, 
with a celerity and an order, as remarkable as the spectacle 
was beautiful and grand ; and, about sun-down, the army en- 
tered Maiden in triumph, heralded by the national air of 
"Yankee Doodle."* 

* Life of Harrison. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Attempt to assassinate Gen. Harrison — James Montgomery — Pleasant 
township — Fort Seneca— Peter Pork — William Spicer — Bloom town- 
ship — Eiizabethtown — Bloomville — Silver creek — Scipio township — 
Republic — Seneca county Academy. 

While Gen. Harrison was at Camp Seneca, he narrowly es- 
caped being murdered by an Indian. It appears that the friend- 
ly Indians of the Delaware, Shawanese, and Seneca tribes had 
been invited to join him. A number had accepted the invita- 
tion, and had reached Seneca before the arrival of the Ken- 
tucky troops. All the chiefs, and no doubt the greater part of 
the warriors, were favorable to the American cause j but be- 
fore their departure fi'om their towns, a wretch had insinuated 
himself among them, with the intention of assassinating the 
commanding general. He belonged to the Shawanese tribe, 
and bore the name of Blue Jacket, but was not the celebrated 
Blue Jacket, who signed the treaty of Greenville with Gen. 
Wayne. He had formerly resided at the town of Wapakonet- 
ta : he had, however, been absent for a considerable time, and 
had returned but a few days before the warriors of that town 
set out to join the American army. 

He informed the chiefs, that he had been hunting on the 
Wabash, and at his request, he was suffered to join the party 
which were about to march to Seneca. Upon their arrival at 
Mc Arthur's block-house, they halted and encamped for the pur- 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 119 

pose of receiving provisions from the deputy Indian agent, 
Col. Mc. Pherson, v/ho resided there. 

Before their arrival at that place, Blue Jacket had communi- 
cated to a friend of his, (a Shawanese warrior,) his intention 
to kill the American general, and requested his assistance ; this 
his friend declined, and endeavored to dissuade him from at- 
tempting it, assuring him that it could not be done without the 
certain sacrifice of his own life, as he had been at the Ameri- 
can camp, and knew that there was always a guard around the 
general's quarters, who were on duty day and night. 

Blue Jacket replied, that he was determined to execute his 
intention at any risk—" that he would kill the general, if he 
was sure that his guards would cut him in pieces not bigger 
than his thumb-nail." 

No people on earth are more faithful in keeping secrets than 
the Indians, but each warrior has a friend, from whom he will 
conceal nothing. Luckily for General Harrison, the friend of 
the confidant of Blue Jacket was a young Delaware chief, 
named Beaver, who was also bound to the general by the ties of 
friendship. He was the son of a Delaware wai^chief of the 
same name, who had, with others, been put to death by his own 
tribe, on the charge of practicing sorcery. 

General Harrison had been on terms of friendship with the 
father, and had patronized his orphan boy, at that time ten or 
twelve years of age. He had now arrived to manhood, and 
was considered among the most promising warriorsof his tribe: 
to this young chief, the friend of Blue Jacket revealed the fa- 
tal secret. The Beaver was placed by this communication in 
an embarrassing situation, for should he disclose what he had 
heard, he betrayed his friend, than which nothing could be 
more repugnant to the feelings and principles of an Indian 
warrior. Should he not disclose it, consequences equal, or 
even more to be deprecated, were likely to ensue. The assas- 



120 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

sination of a friend, the friend of his father, whose life he was 
bound to defend, or whose death to avenge, by the same princi- 
ple of fidelity and honor which forbid the disclosure. 

While he was yet hesitating, Blue Jacket came up to the 
Delaware camp somewhat intoxicated, vociferating vengeance 
upon Colonel McPherson, who had just turned him out of his 
house, and whom he declared he would put to death for the in- 
sult he had received. The sight of the traitor raised the indig- 
nation, and aroused the resentment of the Beaver, to the high- 
est pitch. He seized his tomahawk, and advancing towards 
the culprit, " You must be a great warrior," said he, " you will 
not only kill this white man, for serving you as you deserve, 
but you will also murder our father, the American chief, and 
bring disgrace and mischief upon us all. But you shall do nei- 
ther — I will serve you as I would a mad dog." 

A furious blow from the tomahawk of the Beaver stretched 
the unfortunate Blue Jacket at his feet, and a second termina- 
ted his existence ; *' there," said he, to some Shawanese, who 
were present, " take him to the camp of his tribe, and tell them 
who has done the deed." 

The Shawanese were far from resenting it ; they applauded 
the conduct of the Beaver, and i-ejoiced at their happy escape 
from the ignominy which the accomplishment of Blue Jacket's 
design would have brought upon them. 

At the great treaty which was held at Greenville, in 181.^, 
Gen. Cass, one of the commissioners, related the wliole of the 
transaction to the assembled chiefs, and after thanking the Bea- 
ver in the name of the United States, for having saved the life 
of their general, he caused a handsome present to be made him 
out of the goods which he had sent for the purpose of the trea- 
ty- 

It is impossible to say what was the motive of Blue Jacket, 
to attempt the life of General Harrison : he was not one of the 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 121 

Tippecanoe Shawanese, and therefore could have no personal 
resentment against the general. There is little doubt that he 
came from Maiden when he arrived at Wapakonetta, and that 
he came for the express purpose of attempting the life of the 
general ; but whether he was instigated to it by any other per- 
son or persons, or had conceived the idea himself, has never 
been ascertained.* 

On the 20th of November, 1819, Jame-s Montgomery, a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania, but then a resident of the south part of 
this state, having been appointed as agent of the Seneca Indi- 
ans, settled in this county within the limits of Camp Seneca, 
where the Indians had erected him a log house, which woes cov- 
ered with bark, with puncheon for a floor, 

Mr. Montgomery remained agent for the Indians, and lived 
near the camp until his death, M^hich occurred the first of June, 
1830. Mr. M. was a worthy citizen, and greatly beloved by 
the Indians. When he first came to the county, there were 
hut five families between his residence and Oaklev, now New 
Fort Ball, 

Pleasant township was organized the 6th of June, 1831. — 
Among its first settlers, were John Chaney, Nathan Shippey, 
and Caleb Rice, none of whom are now residents of the town- 
ship. The name, Pleasant, was suggested by James Gordon, 
one of the county commissioners at the time. This township, 
lying upon both sides of the Sandusky, contains more bottom 
land than any other in the county, Among its enterprising 
farmers, are Lorenzo Abbott, Isaac I. Dumond, Benjamin 
Tomb, John Claggett, Uriah Egbert, M. B. Fry, Vincent Bell, 
Daniel V. Flummerfelt, I). H. Jop, M. M. Titus, G. Sheats, 
and others. 

On the 14th of January, 3836, Erastus Bowe and Vincent 

* Memoirs of Harrison. 
11 



urn 



122 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY^ 

Bell caused to be surveyed on the corners of sections nineteen 
and twenty in this township, a town, to which they gave the 
name of "jPor/ Seneca.^^ This place, (formerly known in 
the vicinity as " Swope's Corners,") was surveyed and platted 
by David Risdon, county surveyoi*, and contains fifty-seven in- 
lots. It received its name from the stockade before mention- 
ed, which was about three miles below the town. 

It is situated within 60 rods of the Sandusky river, upon the 
Columbus state-road, six miles and a half from Tiffin, and elev- 
en from Lower Sandusky. Its population is one hundred. It 
is a post-town, containing twenty dwelling-houses, one Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, one tavern, one store, one district school- 
house, two blacksmith's-shops, three shoe-shops, one tailor-shop 
and one cabinet-shop. There is also a physician located in this 
town-^Dr. F. M. Bell. 

On the 4th of October, 1829, Benajah Parker, a resident of 
what is now Fort Seneca, in Pleasant township, was stabbed by 
an Indian of the Seneca nation, named Peter Pork. It ap- 
pears that the Indian, who had been drinking, called at Park- 
er's house, and asked for whiskey. Angry words ensued on 
its being refused, and while Parker was attempting to force the 
Indian out of doors, the latter drew a knife, and with a back- 
handed stroke, inflicted a dangerous wound in the side of the 
former. Parker lingered for several months and died. 

Peter Pork, as soon as he had committed the deed, fled to his 
cabin and prepared to defend himself. Having placed his tom- 
ahawk under his bed, and his knife in the wall at the head, he 
laid down to sleep. He was a stalwart Indian — the whole tribe 
standing in awe of him. The neighbors in the vicinity soon 
assembled near his house, and while asleep, they secured his 
tomahawk and knife, tie was then awakened — ^but not until 
after a severe contest, was he secured and placed in confine- 
ment. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 123 

On the 28th of April, 1830, he was tried by the court of 
common pleas of this county, and- found guilty of '-stabbing 
with intent to kill." He was sentenced to three years' confine- 
ment in the penitentiary. 

At the treaty of the Miami of Lake Erie, the United States 
granted to one William Spicer, a white man, who had been 
captured at the age of five, by the Wyandot Indians, and had 
ever since lived among them, a section of 640 acres of land, 
situated on the east bank of the Sandusky river, within the 
present limits of Pleasant township. This tract, generally 
known as the " Spicer section," is now owned principally by 
Benjamin Tomb, formerly of the state of Pennsylvania. 

Spicer was captured in Pennsylvania, and to the day of his 
death was, as to his habits, manners and language, a perfect Li- 
dian. When the country was first settled by the whites, he 
had resided upon the Sandusky forty years. His history is but 
little known. Pie was taken by the Wyandots, to the banks 
of the Ohio river, and used by them as a decoy to bring boat- 
men to the shore, that chanced to be passing upon the stream. 
Tying him to a tree near the water's edge, they would compel 
him to utter the most plaintive tones, as if he wished to be re- 
lieved from his unfortunate and perishing condition, while the 
savages lay in ambush, ready to fall upon the unsuspecting vic- 
tims of Indian cunning and duplicity. Many thus fell a prey 
to savage cruelty, though it is to be presumed that Spicer was 
compelled to act as he did. 

On the 5th day of April, 1822, Noah Seitz, from Fairfield 
county, settled upon the north-east quarter of section twenty, in 
what is now the township of Bloom. This was the^r^^ settle- 
ment within its limits. Mr. Seitz sold out soon after, to Ed- 
ward Sutherland, and removed to Eden township, upon the 
banks of Honey creek, just above the present village of Mel- 
more, where he still resides. 



124 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

In the spring of the same year, Thomas Boyd, Sen., from 
Ross county, with his sister, Mrs. Mary Donnel, came to this 
township. At the Delaware land-sales, he purchased land up- 
on which he afterwards resided, until his death, which occur- 
red November 27th, 1847. " Mr. Boyd was a native of the 
state of Pennsylvania, and son of Major Boyd, who under Gen- 
eral Washington contributed a gallant share in achieving the 
liberty of the nation. Mr. B. emigrated in an early day to 
the state of Ohio, which he adopted as his future home, and 
ever afterwards manifested the most ardent attachment to her 
best interests." 

The same year — 1822 — Joseph McClelland and James Boyd 
settled upon Honey creek, in Bloom township, and were soon 
after followed by Abram Kagy, Lowell Robinson and Nehe- 
miah Hadley. The next year, John Seitz, Geo. Free, and Ja- 
cob Bretz, became citizens of this township, and permanent 
residents of the county. 

On the 7th day of June, 1824, a petition was presented to 
the board of county commissioners, for the organization of 
townships Nos. one and tioo in range sixteen. The organiza- 
tion was perfected accordingly, including the present town- 
ships of Bloom, Scipio, Reed and Venice. The name Bloom, 
was suggested by John Seitz ; and though adopted for its brev- 
ity, it may not be deemed altogether inappropriate ; as the wil- 
derness at that time presented a scene of surpassing beauty — 
the garden of nature in fullest hloom. 

The population of this township, in 1830, amounted to 389. 
According to the census of 1840, it had increased to 1168. — 
The soil is remarkably fertile, there being scarcely an acre of 
indifferent land within its limits. It is probably not exceeded 
in this respect, by any other township in the county. 

Among its enterprising farmers, are Lowell Robinson, Jo- 
seph McClelland, David Roop, John T. Reid, Simon Keller, 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 125 

Lewis Seitz, John Seitz,* Benjamin Huddle, Philip Heilman, 
David Troxel, William Roberts, Isaac Rohrer, Levi Neibel, 
Adam Baker, Jacob Myers, Oliver L. Robinson, and many 
others. 

In 1822, Harry Blackman, from Genessee county, New 
York, settled in this township, at the place since known as 
"Blackman's Corners." Here he resided sixteen years; and 
is at present a resident of Eden township. At these " Cor- 
ners," on the Kilbourn road, a town was surveyed by James 
Durbin, county surveyor, in 1830, which by the proprietor, 
Dr. James Fisher, was called Elizabethtown. It has never 
flourished — containing, at the present time, six dwelling-hous- 
es, a blacksmith's shop, one carriage-shop and a tavern. 

In 1837, Philip J., Price, Julius Treat, and Thomas.T. Treat 
Esq., caused to be laid out, on the Marion state-road, five miles 
south of the- town of Republic, and upon the school section 
(16) in this township, a town, to which they gave the name of 
'^ Bloomville.^^' It has a post-office — ^^Thomas T. Treat, from 
Aurora, Erie county. New York, being, post-master. 

In 1840, its population was 13.. It has since increased to 
60. The town contains twelve dwelling-houses, three shoe- 
shops, one tailor-shop, two blacksmith's-shops, one carriage- 
shop, one store and two physicians — Dr. Bellville, of the reg- 
ular practice, and Peter J. Smith, Thompsonian. 

Silver creeky a tributary of Honey creek, rises in Crawford 
county, and passes into Bloom township near its south-east cor- 
ner, (sec. 36.) After pursuing a north-westerly course, it falls 
into Honey creek, just after entering the township of Eden. — 
There are three saw-mills and a grist'miW upon this stream, 
and water sufficient to drive them moi^ than three months of 

*Mr. Seitz passed through thia county during the last war, in company with twenty 
others, with wagons loaded with clothing for t^c aqldicrs at Fort St«phenson, where 
they arrived, three week* after Jls gallant defense by Col. Croghan. 

11* 



126 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

the year. Three young men traveling from Mansfield to Tif- 
fin, at an early day, gave name to this stream. Striking it, 
near its source, and being delighted with the transparency of 
its waters, they agreed that it should be 'called '' Silver creek.''^ 
They followed its downward course to its junction with anoth- 
er stream, to which, from the peculiar resemblance in the col- 
or of its waters to that of honey, they gave the name of " Hon- 
ey creek." [See Chap. III.] 

Soon after the land-sales at Delaware, in 1821, William An- 
way, from Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, settled in what 
is now Scipio township. He may be considered the first set- 
tler ; although at the time, two families were located upon the 
school section (16) who soon after, left the county. The late 
i\Ir. Laughery was the first that purchased land in this township. 

Among the oldest settlers in this township, besides those just 
mentioned, were C. T. Westbrook, John Wright, Adam Hance, 
Abram Spencer, Isaac Nichols, Messrs. Stephens and Osbprn, 
and Timothy P. Roberts. The gentleman last mentioned, set- 
tled here in May, 1824, and erected the first frame dwelling- 
liouse in the township, the one in which he now resides. 

Scipio was surveyed into sections and quarter-sections, by 
Silvanus Bourne, in 1820 ; except a small portion, which be- 
longed to the Seneca Indians, and which was surveyed by C. 
W. Christmas, in 1832. 

On the 6th day of December, 1824, a petition was present- 
ed to the commissioners of the county, praying for the organ- 
ization of the second township in the sixteenth range, to be 
known by the name of " Scipio." It had, at that time, sixteen 
qualified electors. The township was organized accoi*dingly, 
and included, at the time, the whole of the present township of 
Reed.* 

* The name was given to this township by Mr. Anway, after the township he left, ia 
the state of New York. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 127 

The first annual election was held on Christmas-day, of the 
same year. The number of votes polled amounted to seven- 
teen — thirteen of those voting, receiving offices ; leavingybw?* 
only, as the " sovereign people.''''* 

Through the energy of its inhabitants, Scipio has now be- 
come one of the first townships in the county. Its progress 
was somewhat retarded at an early day, on account of an in- 
sufficient supply of water ; but this defect has been overcome 
by the ingenious contrivances and perseverance of its inhabi- 
tants. Although there is not a stream of water in the town- 
ship large enough to propel a mill, yet there are several, as 
well as factories and machine-shops, in active operation, by the 
aid of steam. 

The population of Scipio, according to the census of 1840, 
was 1556. Since that time, it has rapidly increased in num- 
bers and in wealth. 

In 1834, General Sidney Smith (now Sea) caused to be sur- 
veyed, in this township, upon the adjoining corners of sections 
fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one and twenty-two, a town to which he 
gave the name of " Republic.''^ It was surveyed and platted by 
R. M. Shoemaker. The greater part of the land upon which 
it is situated, was entered at Delaware, by Messrs. Adam Hance 
and John Wright, in the year 1822 — the former entering the 
east, and the latter the west part. The first dwelling-house 
erected upon the site of this town, was of hewed logs, and was 
built by John Wright, near the spot where a house has since 
been erected, which is at present occupied by Mr. Gale, as a 
store. 

But very little was done towards the improvement of tiie 

*The following was the successful ticket — William B. Mathewson, clerk; John 
Wright, Seth F. Foster, and Jonathan Nichols, trustees ; Adam Hance, and Joseph Os- 
borne, overseers of the poor ; William Stephens, and Ezekiel Sampson, fence-viewers ; 
William Anway, jun., lister ; William An way, treasurer ; Cornelius T. Westbrook, and 
Morrison McMilhn, conetables •, John Anway and E. H. Brown, supervisors. 



128 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

place until the yeax" 1838. Upon the completion of the Rail- 
road from Sandusky City, in 1841, to this town, it received an 
impetus which it still retains, and is now, as to wealth, popula- 
tion and business, the second town in the county. Republic 
contains one Universalist church, erected in 1845, at an ex- 
pense of two thousand dollars ; one Methodist Episcopal church, 
erected in 1846, at a cost of two thousand three hundred dol- 
lars ; and one^ Presbyterian church, erected in 1847, at an ex- 
pense of about two. thousand four hundred dollars. 

It contains also, nine stores, one apothecary,, one silversmith, 
one furnace, a steam saw and grist-mill, one carding-machine, 
two forwarding houses, one district school-house, three shoe- 
shops, two cabinet-shops, two tin-shops, four tailor-shops,, two 
carriage-shops, four blacksmith's-shops one bakery, and one hat- 
shop. Its population is about 1100. 

There are in this town a Masonic chapter, a Ibd'ge of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, (No. 40,) a division of the 
Sons of Temperance, (No. 170,) and a Temple of Honor. 

There was formerly in this town, as in the township, a scar- 
city of water, which considerably retarded its early progress ; 
but three public wells have been recently dug by the Messrs. 
Davis,, (natives of England,) to the depth of sixty-five feet. — 
Owing to the peculiar quality of the earth, considerable skill 
was required to complete them. Good water is now obtain- 
ed in abundance; 

The general appearance' of Republic, is prepossessing and 
pleasant. It is a healthy village, while its growth has been 
more rapid thaa any other town in the county, and bids fair to. 
exceed what a few years ago, were the expectations of the mosfc 
sanguine. 

There are six physicians located in this town — William C. 
Cole, William L. Hamilton,, F. S. Kendall, J. S. Sparks, J. 
Ball, and Dr. Pierce. There is also one attorney-at-law resi- 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 129 

dent of the place, William W. Culver, formerly from the state 
of New York. 

The Seneca County Academy, a spacious brick edifice, is lo- 
cated a little east of this town, in the center of a beautiful plain, 
containing about four acres of ground, partially surrounded 
by a pleasant grove. The building has accommodations suffi- 
cient for three hundred pupils, and presents an imposing ap- 
pearance. The act incorporating this academy was passed by 
the General Assembly of Ohio, March 4th, 1836. [See Ap- 
pendix.] 

The members of the corporation met and organized, Febru- 
ary 8th, 1844. The capital stock of the institution amounts 
to three thousand dollars, and is divided into three hundred 
shares of ten dollars each, the principal part of which was ta- 
ken in Scipio township. 

The stock-holders, at their first meeting, elected nine trus- 
tees — William C. Cole, Evan Dorsey, and John McConaghy, 
for three years; Timothy P. Roberts, Charles Lamkin, and 
James H. Benham, for two years ; and Zephaniah Hathaway, 
William Toll, and David D. Ogden, for one year. At the ex- 
piration of one year, Josiah Roop, Alfred Johnson, and Zeph- 
aniah Hathaway were elected for three years, to fill the vacan- 
cies which had then occurred. February 2d, 1846, Sylvester 
H. Lamkin, Robert R. McKee, and Joshua Maynard, were 
elected for the ensuing three years. 

The president and secretary are elected annually, by the 
trustees. The treasurer is elected by the stockholders, for the 
term of three years. 

The board elected Timothy P. Roberts, first president, but 
having sold his share in the stock, his office became vacant ; 
whereupon, Josiah Roop was elected to fill the vacancy. Josh- 
ua Maynard, M. D., has since been twice elected president, and 
still continues in that office. William C. Cole, became first 



130 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

secretary, serving until the first Monday of February, 1847, 
when he was succeeded by Josiah Roop, the present incum- 
bent. Edson T. Sdckney, was the first treasurer, and has since 
continued in ofiice. 

The academy commenced operations November 10th, 1845, 
S. W. Shepard, principal; Miss Sarah Jane Thayer, precep- 
tress, and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Baxter, teacher of music. Mr. 
Shepard studied his preparatory course in the state of Vermont, 
and graduated with the degree of A. B. at the Ohio Universi- 
ty. Three years after, the degree of A. M. was conferred up- 
on him by the same institution. He is still principal of the 
academy. 

On the 1st of July last, a Miss Curtis was employed as pre- 
ceptress, and teacher of music and drawing, which station she 
still occupies. 

A primary department was established in this institution, in 
the winter of 1847, under the charge of Miss Amelia E. Root, 
as teacher. Miss A. Pearce is at present conducting the same. 
The whole number of pupils that have attended this institution 
since its commencement, up to the present time, is four hundred 
and thirty-two. 



i CHAPTER IX. 

Thompson Township — Sink-holes — Cave — Lewisville — Reed Township 
— Lodi — Venice Township — Caroline — Attica. 

I On the 25th of April, 1820, the commissioners of Sandusky 

county set off a township in this county, to which they gave 
the name of Thompson. It extended, also, into the former 
county ; and its boundaries, as defined by the commissioners at 
that time, were as follow : " Beginning at the north-east corner 
of the Seneca reservation ; running thence north, to the pres- 
ent trailed road from Croghansville to Strong's settlement ; 
thence east, until it shall intersect the Fire-lands ; thence 
south, with said line to the base-line ; thence west, along said 
line, until a line due north will strike the place of beginning." 
This tract comprehended, besides a portion of Sandusky coun- 
ty, nearly half of this county east of the Sandusky river.— 
Thompson includes at this time the original surveyed township. 
No. 3, in the 17th range, and the fractional township, No. 3, 
in the 18th Range. 

The^r5^ township election was held on the 6th day of May, 
1820, at the house of Joseph Parmenter. The first settlers in 
this township were William and Nathan Whitney, Joseph Par- 
menter, Horace Purdy, David Underbill, James Whitmore, 

;p James Underbill, Eli Whitney,' Jasper Underbill, Benjamin 
Clark, Solomon Dimmick, Benjamin Murray, A. H. Twiss, 
and others — several of whom are still residents. 



132 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

There were several squatters upon the land of the United 
States within the limits of Thompson ; but owing to the scar- 
city of water at that time, most of them left the county. 

The population of this township, in 1830, amounted to 362. 
In 1840, it had augmented to 1404. It is now steadily and 
rapidly increasing in population and wealth, ranking as one of 
the first townships in the county. The soil is remarkably fer- 
tile, and the face of the country beautifully undulating. The 
appearance of many of the farms — their farm-houses and ex- 
tensive barns, indicate the intelligence, activity, and wealth of 
its farmers — among whom are John Bunn, Samuel Steward, 
Jacob Bunn, Jacob Karn, John Reyer, Daniel Close, M. Good, 
Jacob Decker, John Heter, Peter Dewalt, William Heter, Sol- 
omon Dimmick, A. H. Twiss, and many others. 

Thompson is settled principally by people from the state of 
Pennsylvania, and immigrants from Germany. Of the latter, 
there is a large settlement in the south-eastern section of the 
township, which is rapidly increasing. They are Roman Cath- 
olics, and have established a Nunnery, which contains, accord- 
ing to the best information we could obtain, twenty-four broth- 
ers and fifty-nine Sisters of Charity. 

The greater part of Thompson rests upon a bed of lime- 
stone rock, which is from two to twelve feet below the surface. 
This bed is usually loose, and the seams in the rock form the 
numerous "sink-holes," which are seen in all parts of the 
township. Of these, two are worthy of notice. Into one, a 
stream called " Sink creek" precipitates itself, and entirely dis- 
appears. Many years ago, a saw-mill was erected, just above 
the sink, upon this stream, and is still in operation, with suffi- 
cient water to drive it over three months of the year. To the 
west of this, is another sink, where a small stream also disap- 
pears, upon which a saw-mill has likewise been erected. Du- 
ring the occurrence of the greatest floods, these sinks are too 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 133 

small to receive the waters from above, in consequence of 
which an overflow is caused, inundating considerable of the 
country beyond. 

But by far the greatest object of interest in this township, 
is the " Thompson Cave^ The entrance to this remarkable 
place is about ten rods from the Mad River and Lake Erie 
Railroad ; near the south end of the east half, of the north- 
west quarter, of section one ; which is almost in the extreme 
north-east corner of the county. It is situated upon the land 
owned by Mason Kinney, one and a half miles from Bellevue, 
and three-fourths of a mile from Lewisville, in this township. 

The discovery of the cave is generally attributed to George 
and Henry Hassan. It was probably first explored by Lyman 
and Asa Strong. As early as the year 1815, it was known to 
the settlers upon the Fire Lands, and was then much frequent- 
ed by hunters, for the purpose of killing rattle-snakes, which 
were found here in great numbers. From this circumstance, 
it was called the " jRattle-snake' s Den.'^^ But these poisonous 
reptiles have long since disappeared. 

The mouth of this cave is a space of about six feet in length, 
and three in width. Upon examining the land in the imme- 
diate vicinity, it appears that about five acres, from some un- 
known cause, have sunk several feet. Some have conjectured, 
that the lime-stone rocks once rested upon a bed of soap-stone, 
which was washed away in time, leaving a cavity, into which 
the whole mass above was precipitated, causing a wide seam in 
the rocks, which constitutes the cave. That there has been a 
great convulsion of the earth in this vicinity, is almost certain ; 
for, as you descend into the cave, it is discovered that on one 
side, the strata of the rocks are nearly horizontal ; while on the 
other side, they are inclining at an angle of about forty degrees. 

Upon entering the passage, a natural path leads gradually 

downwards in a north-easterly direction. At the depth of 
12 



134 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

about thirty feet, the light from above is obstructed, below 
which, darkness forever reigns, unless driven away by the 
lights of the curious, who are exploring the wonders of this 
silent and gloomy place. After a descent of about forty feet, 
a large space is opened ; and here, as the eye surveys the lof- 
ty ceiling, and penetrates the recesses around, the mind is pe- 
culiarly impressed with the awful grandeur and magnificence 
of the scene. 

Proceeding onward, water is observed dripping from the 
rocks above, which is found upon examination, to be impregna- 
ted with sulphur, and not disagreeable to the taste. Beneath, 
are discovered the tracks of harmless animals, that roam about 
in places inaccessible to man ; while over head, hats are seen 
suspended from the rocks, apparently lifeless ; but when brought 
to the sun, they soon recover, and immediately direct their 
course to the cave. 

After a descent of nearly two hundred feet, the passage is 
interrupted by a stream of pure, cold water, which is very 
pleasant to the taste, and has a slow current to the north-ward. 
This stream rises during the wettest portions of the year, about 
eighty feet, and again recedes upon the recurrence of dry 
weather. In 1844, a year remarkable for rains, the water 
rose in the cave one hundred and seventy feet, or within thirty 
feet of the surface of the earth. When at its minimum height, 
the stream presents only a few feet of surface ; but its bottom 
has never been reached. 

This cave is certainly an object of interest to all who admire 
the works of nature, or delight in subterranean wonders ; and 
were the rocks excavated around the mouth, so as to render the 
ingress less tedious, it would doubtless be visited by thousands. 
[ See " note " at the end of this chapter.] 

On the 1st day of January, 1841, the county surveyor, Jonas 
Hershberger, surveyed a town on sections eleven and twehe, 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 135 

in Thompson township, to which was given the mame of Letv- 
isville, from a town of the same name in the state of Pennsyl- 
vania. The proprietors were George Schoch, Jr., Jacob Kor- 
ner and Frederick Harpster. 

Lewisville is pleasantly situated upon the Mad River and 
Lake Erie Railroad, and is rapidly improving. The country 
around is delightful, descending in nearly every direction from 
the town. The post-office is called Flat Rock. 

It is one mile west of the Huron county line— one and one- 
fourth miles south of the Sandusky county line ; twenty-one 
miles from Tiffin ; twelve miles from Republic ; fifteen miles 
from Norwalk, the county seat of Fluron county; eighteen miles 
from Sandusky City ; and three and a half miles south-west from 
Bellevue, Sandusky county. Its population is 80. It contains 
eighteen dwellings, one store, one cabinet-shop, one tailor-shop, 
two shoe-shops, three blacksmith's-shops, one saddler's-shop and 
one carriage-shop. There are two practicing physicians, resi- 
dents of this town — Joseph Myers and Henry L. Harris. 

On the 18th day of January, 1825, Setli Reed and George 
Raymond, from Steuben county. New York, settled upon sec- 
tion twenty-four, in what is now the township of Reed. These 
gentlemen entered land at the Delaware land-office, and were 
the j^r5^ settlers within the limits of the township. They were 
followed soon after by Edward Cassety and Elijah Reed. In 
a short time, Tornis Cronkite, Thomas Bennit, Samuel Sco- 
thorn and Isaac Bennit, became permanent residents of the 
township.* 

*On the 9th day of March; 1827, two young men left their homes in this township, 
and crossed oyer in^o Norwich, Huron county, upon a hunting excursion. Discovering a 
flock of wild turkeys, they secreted themselves, and commenced calling them, according to 
the usual method adopted by hunters. While thus engaged, a neighbor, who was in the 
vicinity, unknown to either of them, was deceived by the noise, and cautiously approach- 
ing the spot, and discovering what was supposed to be a turkey, he immediately fired' 
The next moment he discovered he had shot his neighbor. There he sat, the blood run- 
ning down his side, when it was found upon examination, tliat the ball had struck hiiu 



136 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

Reed was constituted a legal township on the 5th day of De- 
cember, 1826 ; and was thus named in compliment to Seih Reed^ 
one of its earliest settlers. The first township election was 
held at the house of this gentleman, on the first day of the 
year following. 

The face of the land in this township is generally undula- 
ting, and its soil very fertile. There are no mill-streams with- 
in its limits ; although there are three saw-mills in active oper- 
ation by the aid of steam. In 1830, the population of Reed 
was 264. According to the census of 1840, it had increased 
to 1214. There are several sink-holes within its limits, as in 
Thompson township. 

Among the enterprising farmers of this township, are Mat- 
thew Clark, Thomas Bennit, A. C. Baker, Benjamin Sanford, 
John B. Schuyler, Jacob Cole, William P. White, Henry Ryno, 
Levi Reed, James Harrison, W. H. Cronkite, John Clark, 
John Hover and others. Reed is steadily and rapidly increas- 
ing both in population and wealth. 

On the 4th day of January, 1838, John Terry and Catha- 
rine Beard caused to be laid out on sections five and six, in this 
township, a town, to which was given the name of ^^Lodi.''- 
It was surveyed and platted by James Durbin, county surveyor. 
Lodi is a post-town — the first post-master was Lyman White, 
the present incumbent. 

_The population of this town is 80. It contains fourteen 
dwellings, one Baptist church, one forwarding house, two ho- 
tels, two stores, one tannery, one steam saw-mill, one grocery, 



just behind the ear, apparently passing through the same. He was conveyed to his 
liome, and medical assistance procured as soon as possible. It was then found upon a 
closer examination, that the wound was not fatal, and after three months suffering he 
recovered. 

This, it must he acknowledged was a very narrow escape from an untimely grave; and 
it is to be presumed, that the incidents of that day still remain vivid in the memories of 
those men; and will thus continue, coeval with their existence. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 137 

one cabinet-shop, two wagon-shops, two tailors'-shops, two 
blacksmiths'-shops, and two shoe-shops. There is one practic- 
ing physician, Robert P. Frazer, a resident of the place. Lodi 
is situated upon the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail-road, five 
miles from Republic, and fourteen from Tiffin. 

On the 1st day of June, 1829, Ezra Gilbert presented a pe- 
tition to the commissioners of this county from the citizens of 
the original surveyed township No. 1, in the 17th range, 
praying for its organization into a legal township, to be known 
by the name of Venice. It was organized accordingly ; but 
included the fractional township in range 18. The Jir si town- 
ship election was held June 13th, 1829.* 

Among the earliest settlers of this township, were Cornelius 
G'ilmore, Ezra Gilbert, Henry Speaker, Samuel Halsted, Gov- 
erneur Edwards, John Wallet, David Kemp, Jacob Cook, 
Andrew More, William McPherson, Johnson Ford, Philip 
Muck and James McKibben. 

The population of Venice in 1840, was 1222. Since that 
time, its increase has been gradual and rapid. The early pro- 
gress of this township was somewhat retarded, on BCGoimt of 
its wet appearance at an early day. But since the land has 
been cleared, it is found' to be- of excellent soil, and well adapt- 
ted to the growth of wheat and most other grains. 

Among others of its enterprising farmers, are George 
Ringel, Thomas Bennett, David Ringel, Capt. J. Miller, An- 
drew More, James McKibben,, Samuel Shade, James D. Ste- 
phens, John McKibben, Henry Myers, (tailor,) Z. Bretz and 
James McKibben, Sen. 

On the 2Bth of February, 1828, Col. James Kilbourn, of 

J The ticket elected was as follows: Philip E. Bronson, township clerk; Thomas 
West, Ezra Gilbert, Moses Smith, trustees; James Halsted, treasurer; Henry Speaker. 
Ehsha Fair, overseers of the poor; Cornelius Gilmore, Ezra Gilbert, fence-viewers: 
VVarren Blakesly, constable. % 

12* 



138 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

Worthington, surveyed a town on sections ten and eleven, in 
this township to which he gave the name of " Caroline,^ ^* in 

*The following song was composed on May-day, following the survey of this town, by 
the colonel, who has often sung it with great glee at his numerous "jollifications." 

CAROLINE. 

A S05G. 

As poets, have sung of their masculine towns. 
Where rivers are flowing and pleasure abounds, 
The muse I invoke, on the entrance of May, 
To sing of sweet "Caroline," blooming and gay. 

Where the forest is cleft, by the hands that were strong, 
And the Sandusky turnpike, extending along — 
Erect in the midst of the richest of lands, 
On the borders of Honey creek, smihng she stands. 

Here, roads are concentred and travelers come. 
And here may the stranger repose at his home; 
Improvements extend, and the laboring hand, 
Of various artisans, rise in demand. 

Here, mandrakes and violets spreading around. 
And the high tulip-poplars are shading the ground, 
There, meadows and fields, 'mid the forests are seen, 
Presenting their verdure in bright living green. 

Approaching the scene, and when viewing it near, 
The gods of the waters enamored appear; 
And linger a while in their course as they flow, 
Before they descend to the rock-lands below. 

When settlements spread, came the good Doctor Pearse, 
But no one was sickly, and none on the hearse: 
He quit of necessity — and just the same fate, 
By just the same causes, took off Doctor Bate. 

Here Dutchmen, and Scotchmen, and Yorkers unite — 
And with Yankees and Irishmen, pull aicay right — 
W ith long pullf and strong pvU, compacted they stand — 
And by pulling together, success they command. 



I 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 139 

compliment to a daughter of Cornelius Gilmore, first inhabit- 
ant of the town. 

Its proprietors were Hector Kilbourn, Byron Kilbourn, and 
Cornelius Gilmore. 

Caroline is situated on the south bank of Honey creek, upon 
the Sandusky City and Columbus turnpike. The first settler 
upon the town plat was Cornelius Gilmore, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, who settled here in the winter of 1830. 

On the 1st of April of the same year, Andrew More settled 
in this town, where he resided until his death, which occurred 
August 6th, 1846. On the 17th of June, 1830, James McKib- 
ben moved to this town, and has ever since been a resident of 
the place. AX that time there were only fifteen families in 
Venice township. Caroline contains sixteen dwellings, one 
tavern, one store, one large tannery, one district school-house, 
three shoe-shops, one blacksmith-shop and one carriage-shop. 
In 1840 its population was 27. It is now nearly a hundred, 
and is gradually increasing. 

On the first day of May, 1833, William and Samuel Miller, 



McPherson of Caroline pleases as well 
As any McPhersou, that Scotland can tell; 
Hanna, Stephenson, Willoughby, Bennett, aspire. 
McKibben, the merchant, and Gilbert, the squire. 

For jollification, when met as a band, 

If a speaker we need, we've a Speaker" at hand, 

And many more worthies — and leading the corps, 

We name with great pleasure, our friend, landlord Morel 

Now last, but not least, sing we Heaven's last gift — 
Whose cares and whose smiles give to man the best lift — 
TheJF beauties of person, and character shine, 
To honor their sex, ^uA our sweet Caroline. 

*01d Mr, Henry Speaker, often made speaker of the meeting. 



140 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

from the state of Pennsylvania, caused to be surveyed on sec- 
tion ten, in Venice township, a town, to which they gave the 
name of " Attica.''^ It was surveyed and platted by David Ris- 
don, county surveyor. It received its name from the post-of- 
fice, which was established here prior to its survey. The 
name " Attica " was given to the post-offica by Ezra Gilbert, 
one of the first settlers on the plat, from a town of the- same 
name in the state of New York, where he had formerly resided. 
Among the other first settlers of Attica, were Samuel Halsted, 
of New York, and the Messrs. Millers, v/ho are still residents 
of the place. The first public house was opened by Ezra 
Gilbert — the first store^ by Nathan Merriman, since deceased. 
In 1836, Attica contained twenty dwellings, and a population of 
100. In 1840, the increase in population was 1.8 over th© 
number in 1836. It contains at this time, forty dwellings,, 
and a population of 200. There are in this town, one Pres- 
byterian church, three stores, two hotels, one steam saw and 
grist-mill, one grocery, a district school-house, one foundry, 
two cabinet-shops, two tailor's-shops, three shoe-shops, three 
blacksmith and three carriage-shops. There are three practic-. 
ing physicians, residents of this town — Benjamin F. Freeman, 
Calvin Jones, and Benjamin Vannatta^ John L. La Marcux, 
attorney-at-lavv, is also a resident of the place. 'V\ie first post- 
master in Attica was Ezra Gilbert. The office is now held by 
H. B. Cain. 

Attica is situated upon the Sandusky City and Columbus 
turnpike, 77 miles from the latter, and 28 miles south from the 
former place. The main traveled road, from Fort Findlay 
through Tiffin, passes through this place to New Plaven, Hu- 
ron county, Wooster, &c. Attica is 22 miles south-west from 
Nor walk, the county seat of Huron county ; 18 miles from 
Monroe ville ; 12 miles west from New Haven ; 18 north from 
Bucyrus, Crawford county ; 14 east from Melmore ; and 16 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 141 

miles from Tin.ffi Attica is a healthy and vigorous town, sur- 
rounded by beautiful farms, and is gradually increasing both in 
population and wealth. 

Note. The following communication, published in the 
Sandusky Clarion, August 17th, 1844, though somewhat of a 
digression from the history of the county, will be read with 
interest, as the subterranean passages in the eastern portion of 
this county have given rise to much speculation. 

Messrs, Editors — I have seen, going the rounds of the pa- 
pers, as a "singular phenomenon," the flowing of the water 
from a well about 11 miles from this place. Singular, I think 
it is not, and new I know it not to be. Neither, as represent- 
ed, did it commence " all at once to flow," for it was known 
to be rising many days before it commenced overflowing, and 
had been daily watched. Some days it rose a little, and some 
days it fell a little, until the last violent rain, when it com- 
menced running over. 

But perhaps you will better understand the subject, if I give 
you the result of my observations, and what I have learned 
concerning the subterraneous waters of that region, for the last 
quarter of a century. 

Cold Creek, probably the principal out-let of the water, rises 
in Margaretta township, about three and a half miles from San- 
dusky Bay, (and at an elevation of 50 feet above Lake Erie,) 
into which it flows, in a northerly direction, and in that dis- 
tance supplies the water for four large flouring mills. 

The spring that the creek flows from, was originally about an 
acre in extent ; but by damming it close to the head, the course 
of the water was changed under ground, so as to divert a part 
of it, which again burst out at about two hundred rods distant, 
from a great depth in the earth, forming a hole about ten feet 
across, which was afterwards partially surrounded by a circu- 



142 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

iar dam, with the intention of forcing the water back to the 
old creek; but as the water icould not run up hill, the dam was 
extended, and a canal dug, uniting the springs in one level. 
The new spring is now about one hundred feet across, bowl- 
shaped, and from 40 to 60 feet deep, with the water so clear 
that a person looking from a boat on its surface, can see small 
objects floating at the bottom, and seem themselves to be float- 
ing in the air. 

These springs rise less than two miles from the western 
boundary of the "Fire Lands," which is also our county line 
west, within which distance another rises, called the " Rock- 
well spring," which flows west into Sandusky county, and 
supplies water to a saw-mill. 

The water that supplies these springs is supposed to come 
from the extensive swamps and marshes that lie from 25 to 30 
miles in a southern direction, and about five miles north of the 
dividing ridge that separates the waters flowing into the Ohio 
river and those flowing into Lake Erie at this point, and at 
rather a gradual elevation of about 400 feet above the level 
of the lake. 

From Cold Creek to these swamps, there is strong evidence 
of large quantities of water running under the surface of the 
earth. The first is about 50 rods from the head of the creek, 
where the breaking out of a few stone at the bottom of a small 
ledge, exposed a large and deep stream of water, constantly run- 
ning, the bottom of which cannot be reached at 20 feet, in a 
slanting direction, and the surface can be seen ten feet wide. 
At another place, some tv/o miles south, water can always be 
obtained by sinking a bottle from 40 to 60 feet in the crevices 
of the rock. Then again, about five miles south from Cold 
Creek, is a dishing prairie, of from one to two hundred acres 
in extent, which, after a series of rainy seasons, fills, by the 
water rising from its bottom, through the alluvial soil that forms 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 143 

the surface of the prairie. Then about one mile further south, 
is a similar prairie, from the south side of which, at about ten 
feet elevation from its bottom is the "flowing well." The 
first account of the flowing of this prairie, reaches back about 
27 years. A man who had settled on the north bank for the 
purpose of cultivating the lands below, which he found ready 
for the plow, was in the night alarmed by a loud report, and 
the shaking of the earth, and upon going to the door of his 
cabin, he heard a sound as of running water. Upon going 
towards the spot from whence the sound proceeded, he found 
the water rushing from the surface of the earth with tremen- 
dous force, on the south bank of the prairie, in a volume larger 
than a hogshead, which continued to flow until the prairie was 
filled, and the water ran ofl" from the north-east side of the 
basin. After this the prairie filled, several diflerent seasons, 
through the alluvial soil on its sides and bottom, but not always 
so as to run over, until about 12 years ago, when the " flowing 
well " burst out about 60 rods east of the first one. After it 
had ceased flowing, a man living near, thought to follow the 
water as it settled down, so as to have a well, it being diflicult 
to find water in this neighborhood. After digging about 18 
feet in a perpendicular direction, the course diverged to the 
westward, in a descending direction, about as much further; 
then after removing the rubbish about 20 feet further, in a per- 
pendicular direction, it was abandoned, at a distance of about 50 
feet from the surface of the earth. Since that time, water 
could always be found at the bottom, in the spring of the year. 
Eight years ago it overflowed again, since which time there 
has occasionally been high water in it during a wet season, and 
it once rose to within a few feet of the top ; but never ran over 
until the present season, when it filled the prairie to the extent 
of about 75 acres, floating off" the fences and destroying the 
crops. It lasted about ten days, when it ceased flowing, and ran 



144 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

back, so that the prairie was dry within a week, notwithstand- 
ing the bottom of the basin is eight feet below where the water 
was drained to the well — the water settling away through the 
soil at the bottom. 

While the water was at its highest point at this time, the 
family upon the farm where the "flowing well " is situated, 
heard a loud report in the night, which seemed to come from 
the earth, during a thunder-storm. In the morning, it was 
found to have come from the "blowing out" of another 
hole, about three-quarters of a mile, in a north-westerly di- 
rection, from which the water was flowing in a stream as large 
as a hogshead. Around all the "blowholes," as they are 
called, the broken lime-stone is scattered for many feet, thrown 
out by the force of the water when it first burst out. 

From this spot, for ten miles or more, towards the dividing 
ridge, the face of the country is indented in numerous places, 
with flowing prairies and " sink-holes," from a few rods to 
many acres in extent. Many of the "sink-holes" are mere 
bowl-shaped depressions of the surface, occasioned, probably 
during periods of high water, by the wasting away of the earth 
below, into the cavernous region, through some crevice in the 
compact lime-stone immediately beneath. I am led to this con- 
clusion, from the fact, that in some places, wells have been dug 
into the compact lirne-stone, that have furnished water until 
some dry season, when it has become low, and in blasting for 
more, they have broke through into the loose lime-stone, and 
lost what they had. 

Others of the sink-holes have openings at the bottom, 
through which the water rises, in a wet season, whilst through 
the bottoms of others the surplus water from the surface of 
the country runs ofl". Advantage has been taken of some of 
these depressions to form the pond of a saw-mill near Belle- 
vue, that runs from two to four months in the spring of the 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 145 

year, carried by water that is accumulated from the draining 
of a large tract of country above, which, after supplying the 
mil], runs off through a "sink-hole." 

I think, if it were not for the "sink-holes" to carry off the 
water, in many places the country would be full of ponds and 
swamps, rendering it unhealthy. The citizens of Bellevue 
have been compelled, this season, for the second time, to drain 
a pond caused by the overflowing of a " sink-hole." 

About two miles, still south of Bellevue, there is an opening 
into the cavernous lime-stone, that can be traversed above two 
hundred feet, at the extremity of which runs a large stream of 
water, at more than 130 feet from the surface of the earth, and 
this season the cavern was filled to within from twenty to thir- 
ty feet of the surface. 

A few miles still further south, is a sunken prairie, in the 
bottom of which stands a black- walnut tree, that holds a rail- 
cut eighteen inches through^ among its branches, more than 20 
feet from the ground, floated there when the water was at that 
height. 

In connection with the above, I will mention a circumstance 
that took place a few years ago, in the region of the "sink- 
holes :" 

A man, well known to myself, had a team of three yoke of 
cattle, plowing in the spring. When it commenced raining, 
he stopped his work, and turned his cattle loose in the field. 
The rain proved to be a long storm, lasting several days. — 
When it held up, and the cattle were sought for, one of them 
was missing, supposed by the owner to have jumped the fence 
and strayed ofl*, until, more than three weeks afterwards the ox 
was found in the lot, where he had settled down through the 
soil into a crevice of the rock below, with nothing but his head 
and shoulders out. He was taken out, and lived, with no oth- 
er injury than the loss of hair from the buried part. Another 
13 



14:6 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

OX was lost three weeks, and found at the bottom of a ^' sink- 
hole" in the woods : the sides of which he had browsed clean. 

I will further state, that when some parts of the country I 
have been describing, were first settled, they were very much 
infested with rattlesnakes, (although they are now rarely found,) 
which were sometimes found early in the spring, in large num- 
bers, upon the surface of the earth, nearly in their torpid state, 
driven from the rocks below, by the rising of the water, before 
the sun was sufficiently powerful to warm them into active life. 

I have written so much morc than I intended when I com- 
menced, that I will fmish by adding that, notwithstanding the 
immense quantity of water in the country above, Cold Creek 
is never affected by the rising or falling of the water, six inch- 
es. Yours, respectfuilv. W. 



CHAPTER X. 

Sale of School-sections — Free-schools — Present condition — Obstacles re- 
tarding their progress. 

By an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, the sehool-sec- 
tions in the townships of Eden, Clinton, Seneca and Scipio, 
were appraised, several years since, at their actual value, and 
permanently leased for ninety-nine years, the interest of which 
was to be paid annually. 

Since that time, they have been sold, together with the school- 
sections in each of the other townships of the county, except 
those of Big Spring, Loudon, Liberty, and a portion of the 
section in Hopewell township. I'he school-section in Adams, 
at that time was owned by the Seneca tribe of Indians ; but 
since their removal to the west, it has been appraised and sold.* 

As there is a general interest manifested at the present day, 
with regard to the subject of popular education ; and as the 
present condition of the common schools of this county, is not 
very dissimilarto that of most of the other counties of the state, 
we have appended a sketch of the origin and progress of the 
free-school system in Ohio. 

The Ordinance of 1787. provided that " religion, morality, 
and knowledge being necessary to good government and the 

* Each township that has disposed of its school-section, draws interest upon a certain 
proportion of the proceeds annually, which is applied for the payment of teachers in the 
several school districts throughout the township, 

f For statistics, see Appendix.] 



148 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall 
be forever encouraged." In the previous Ordinance of 1785, 
regulating the sale of lands in the west, section number 16, of 
every township was reserved " for the maintenance of public 
schools within the said township." And the Constitution of 
Ohio, using the words of the Ordinance of 1787, says, " that 
schools and the means of instruction, shall be forever encoura- 
ged by legislative provision." 

In accordance with the feelings shown in these several claus- 
es, the governors of Ohio always mentioned the subject of ed- 
ucation with great respect, in their messages ; but nothing was 
done to make it general. It was supposed that people would 
not willingly be taxed, to educate the children of their poor 
neighbors ; not so much because they failed to perceive the ne- 
cessity that exists for all to be educated, in order that the com- 
monwealth may be safe and prosperous ; but because a vast 
number, that lived in Ohio, still doubted whether Ohio would 
be their ultimate abiding-place. They came to the west to 
make money rather than to find a home, and did not care to 
help to educate those whose want of education they might nev- 
er feel. 

Such was the state of things, until about the year 1816, at 
which time several persons in Cincinnati, who knew the bene- 
fits of a free-school system, united, and commenced a corres- 
pondence with different portions of the state. Their ideas be- 
ing warmly responded to, by the dwellers in the Ohio com- 
pany's purchase, and the Western Reserve more particularly, 
committees of correspondence were appointed in the difierent 
sections, and various means were resorted to, to call the atten- 
tion of the public to the subject ; among the most efficient of 
which was the publication of an Education Almanac, at Cin- 
cinnati. This work was edited by Nathan Guilford, a lawyer 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 149 

of that place, who had from the first taken a deep interest in 
the matter. 

For seven or eight years this gentleman and his associates la- 
bored silently and ceaselessly to diffuse their sentiments, before 
any attempt was made to bring the subject into the legislature. 
At length, in 1824, it having been ascertained that a strong feel- 
ing existed in favor of a common school system through the 
eastern and north-eastern parts of the state, and it being also 
known, that the western men who were then bringing forward 
their canal schemes, wished to secure the assistance of their 
less immediately benefited fellow-citizens, it was thought to be 
a favorable time to bring the free-shcool proposition forward; 
the understanding being, that, as neither the friends of canals, 
nor those of schools, were strong enough by themselves to 
carry their project, each should assist the other. 

This -understanding, which was rather implied than express- 
ed, has led some to say, that the free-school system was attained 
by " log-rolling ;" which saying, though true in one sense, is 
not to be understood in the sense that refers to individual soli- 
citation and promise. On this occasion Cincinnati sent to the 
senate, Mr. Guilford, whose avowed and main object in thus 
entering public life, was to help on the accomplishment of his 
favorite project, and to that he devoted himself during the ses- 
sion. Many thought his toils useless ; some of the leading 
men said the measure was unconstitutional, unwise, and against 
popular feeling entirely ; but they proved false prophets, as it 
was carried by a very large vote, and became a popular 
measure. 

The Rev. Manasseh Cutler, one of the leading directors of 

the Ohio company, stood by the side of the chief projector of the 

school law at the bar of the house of representatives when the 

final vote was taken upon it, and, as the speaker announced the 

result, the old man raised his hands and uttered the words of 
13* 



150 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, 

Simeon: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, 
according to thy word ; for mine ej^es have seen thy salvation!" 
It was a touching and true tribute. 

Mr. Guilford, having brought about the particular good 
which he had in view, became a private citizen again, setting 
to the common political aspirants of the country, an example 
well worthy of their consideration. 

Praise for his devotion to so noble a cause, would be here 
misplaced, but no one can doubt, looking only to the object he 
effected, that his name will ever be remembered with those of 
the great benefactors of Ohio and the west.* 

The act of that year imposed a general tax upon property, 
of half a mill upon the dollar, for the support of schools, and 
provided for their establishment in every township. It after- 
wards underwent several alterations, and in 1831, was super- 
seded by another and better law upon the same subject. To 
this latter were made several amendments ; when in 1838 an- 
other general revision took place. Since that time, several ad- 
ditions and alterations have been made, but the general features 
of the law of 183S still remain in force. 

That the common schools of this county are not equal to 
those in the eastern states, or even to the older counties in this 
state, is not surprising. Our county is new, and its inhabitants 
have not had the time, with an age of twenty-four years only, 
to mature its institutions. But we aro looking forward to the 
time when the sun of science shall rise higher above the hori- 
zon — when the public schools of our county will be the pride 
of every citizen. 

Aside from the obstacles arising from the defective school 
system of the state, there are those which retard the onward 
progress of popular education, and which might be removed 

* North American Review. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 151 

in every county, were the subject well understood, and the 
blessings of education rightly appreciated. We will mention 
a few only. 

1. Neglect of parents and guardians to visit the school- 
room. There is no class of men who need greater support and 
encouragement than teachers, and yet none receive less. It is 
not strange that they should contract errors, for none proffer 
sympathy or counsel ; nor is it strange that they become disheart- 
ened, and sluggishly and faithlessly discharge their duties, for 
no kind voice beckons them on to diligence and duty. No 
agent in any other employment would be so neglected by his 
principal ; and yet what vocation ought to command such strict 
and affectionate supervision as that of the teacher ? The inju- 
rious consequences, however, of this inattention to schools, at- 
tach with the greatest power to the pupils. A child cannot be 
supposed to have any adequate or enlarged views of duty, in- 
dustry or learning, when parents exhibit an almost total indif- 
ference to their condition or progress. Did a parent exhibit as 
much indifference to his flocks and herds, as he frequently 
manifests in regard to the education of his children, he would 
be regarded as improvident and injudicious. 

Dews, sunshine, and rain, are not more needed for the growth 
of plants in the vegetable kingdom, than are the genial influen- 
ces of sympathy and co-operation in giving prosperity and 
beauty to the more interesting plants to be found in the nurse- 
ries of our country's hope and glory.* 

2_. Employing incompetent teacliers. The importance and 
responsibility of the office of teacher — says Emerson — are 
sadly undervalued. A very common impression is, that any 
person of tolerable character, who has been through a school, 
and acquired the elements of the branches taught, is qualified. 

*The secretary of state's report, 1848. ., 



152 KISTOEY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

to teach ; as if the art of teaching were nothing more than 
pouring into the mind of another what has been poured into 
ours ; as if there were no such thing as mind to act upon, 
habits to form, or character to influence. The prevailing 
opinions in regard to the art are such as the common sense of 
mankind and the experience of centuries has shown to be ab- 
surd as to every other art and pursuit of civilized life. To be 
qualified to discourse upon our moral and religious duties, a 
man must be educated by years of study ; to be able to ad- 
minister to the body in disease, he must be educated by careful 
examination of the body in health and disease, and of the ef- 
fects produced on it by external agents ; to be able to make out 
a conveyance of property, or to draw a writ, he must be edu- 
cated ; to navigate ships, he must be educated by years of ser- 
vice before the mast, or on the quarter-deck ; to transfer the 
products of the earth, or of art, from the producer to the con- 
sumer, he must be educated ; to make a hat or coat, he must 
be educated by years of apprenticeship ; to make a plow he 
must be educated : to make a nail or a shoe for a horse or an ox 
he must be educated ; hut to prepare a man to do all these things; 
to train the body in its most tender years, according to the 
laws of health, so that it shall be strong, to resist disease ; to 
fill the mind with useful knowledge, to educate it to compre- 
hend all the relations of society, to bring out all its powers in- 
to full and harmonious action ; to educate the moral nature, in 
which the very sentiment of duty resides, that it may be fitted 
for an honorable and worthy fulfillment of the public and pri- 
vate offices of life ; to do all this is supposed to require no 
study, no apprenticeship, no preparation. 

So long then as the business of an instructor is not consider- 
ed in its true light, as one of the highest, noblest, and most use- 
ful employments on earth — so long as the compensation is very 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 153 

low — will the people of this county labor under the disadvan- 
tages of a depressed state of popular education. 

3. The use of old and dilapidated school-houses. We 
do not look for deep religious feeling, in a community who 
occupy good dwelling-houses, but are content to worship in 
poor and neglected churches ; nor do we expect great "rever- 
ence for Christianity, from children, if the sanctuary to which 
they are carried on Sunday, is old and dilapidated — disfigured 
by abuse---without paint — its windows broken — and not a shrub, 
or tree, or square yard of verdure in its neighborhood. 

The school-house is dedicated to education, as the house of 
worship is to religion. In one case, as in the other, the state 
of the edifice indicates the regard which its builders and guar- 
dians have for the object to which they have devoted it. Nor 
this only. The condition and aspect of the building, with its 
appendages and surrounding landscape, are inseparably associ- 
ated in a child's mind, with his first day at school, and his first 
thoughts about education. Is it well, then, that these earliest, 
most lasting, and most controlling associations, should be char- 
ced with so much that is offensive ?- Is it to be expected, that 
the youthful mind can regard that as the cause, next to 
religion, most important of all others, which is upheld 
and promoted in such buildings as the district school-house 
usually is ? Among the most comfortless and wretched tene- 
ments, which the pupil ever enters, he thinks of it with repug- 
nance ; the task which it imposes, he dreads ; and he at length 
takes his leave of it— as of a prison, from which he is but too 
happy to escape. 

When parents are no longer indifferent about the welfare 
of their schools — when they desire no longer to hire those teach- 
ers whose only recommend is, that they will teach " cheap " — 
when they do not fail to examine their children at home with 
regard to their progress at schools — when they are no longer 



154 HISTORY OF SENfEGA COUNTY- 

remiss in visiting the school-room — then may we expect that 
Seneca county will shine bright as a star of the first magni- 
tude in the great constellation of Ohio ! and then will her 
coimnon schools he the proudest monuments of her great- 
ness. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Adams township — Stiphur springs — Green Spring — Festival of the Sen- 
eca Indians. 

On the 6th day of December, 1826, the township of Adams 
was organized, and made to include all the land in the ori- 
ginal surveyed township, No. 3, in the 16th range, except 
^^hat was then owned by the Seneca tribe of Indians, and 
one tier of sections on the west side of township No. 3, in the 
17th Range, or what is at present Thompson township. Adams 
includes at this time, the whole of the original surveyed town- 
ship No. 3, in range 16. That paj'tnot then owned by the In- 
dians, was surveyed into sections, and quarter sections, by Syl- 
vanus Bourne, in 1820 ; the residue was surveyed in 1832, by 
C. W. Christmas. 

The first township election was held on Monday the 25th 
day of December, 1826, at the house of Samuel Whiteman.* 
The soil in this township is remarkably rich, producing all 
kinds of grain and grass in abundance. The land is heavily 
timbered, consisting chiefly of oak, walnut, poplar, maple, 
beech, &c. The surface is usually rolling, and very well 
watered. 

* The ticket elected -w-aa as follows; Mailin Olos, L. T. Butler, and Thomas Long- 
-vvith, trustees ; Abraham Kine, clerk •, Charles Shelby and Samuel Whiteman, over- 
seers of the poor •, G. Lee and Samuel Heartsock, fence-vie-vvers; Cyrenus Wright, treas- 
urer •, William Myerp, William Mead and Francis Evens, supervisor? ; Moses Pyatt, 
constable. 



156 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

In 1830, Adams contained 285 inhabitants. In 1836 the 
population was estimated at 600. In 1840 it had augmented 
to 1250. Since that time it has steadily and rapidly increased 
in population and in wealth, numbering among many others 
of its enterprising farmers — Asa Crockett, L. C. Stone, Dan- 
iel Rule, Ezra West, James Crockett, E. Smith, Solomon 
Drown, John Petticord, Enos Mead, John Craig, William My- 
ers, Sen., Samuel Whiteman, (1st,) Reuben Drinkwater, G. 
Lee, John Kessler, and John Pain. 

The greatest natural curiosity in Adams townsliip, is the Sul- 
phur Springs. These are nearly in the middle of section seven, 
at present owned by Josiah Hedges, proprietor of Tiffin. 

The water which issues from the earth in several places, is 
clear and cold, and strongly impregnated with sulphur. It is 
not unpleasant to the taste, and possesses the remarkable prop- 
erties of petrifying substances. Old logs have been taken 
from the bed of the stream which is formed by these springs, 
partially turned to stone, and various other substances have been 
found completely petrified. There is quite a large and sf-eady 
current proceeding from these springs, which, after a souther- 
ly course of about thirty rods, mingles with the waters of Bea- 
ver creek. 

The generally received opinion with regard to these springs is, 
that they are formed by the water which sinks into the earth 
near the north-east corner of the county — in the bed of Honey 
creek — and in Reed township, and which after a subterranean 
passage, here breaks forth upon the surface. This of course is 
mere conjecture. 

Beaver creek, a small stream of this township, passes near 
these springs, and after receiving the waters of the latter, 
crosses into Pleasant township, on section twelve. Taking a 
northerly direction, it leaves the county near the north-east cor- 
ner of the township. This creek was formerly inhabit-ed by 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 157 

beaverS) as vestiges of their works stiil remain. From this 
circumstance, originated the name of Beaver creek. 

There are three saw-mills on this stream, above the sulphur 
springs ; and water runs sufficient to drive them over four 
months of the year. 

In 1838, a large flouring-mill was erected on Beaver creek, 
by Josiah Hedges.* It is just below the spring, in Pleasant 
township ; and unlike other mills of the county, is not in the 
least affected by dry weather. During some of the summer 
months, its patrons are generally from all parts of the county, 
and occasionally from Wood, Hancock, Wyandot, Crawford^ 
and sometimes from Putnam county, eighty miles distant. 

In Sandusky county, eighty rods north from the northern 
boundary line of this county, there are sulphur springs similar 
to those in Adams. From the color of the water they have re- 
ceived the name of " Green Springs." The water from these 
springs unites with Beaver creek, after ^vhich, the latter takes 
the name of " Green creek ;" and empties into the Sandusky 
river, in Sandusky county. 

On the 26th day of May, 1839, David Reeves, of Sandusky 
county, and David Risdon, of Seneca countyj surveyed a town 
on section No. 5, in Adams township, and sections Nos. 31 
and 32, in the original surveyed township No. 4, in the 16 th 
range, in Sandusky county, which was named by the proprie- 
tor, Jacob Stem, " Green Spring," from the springs before 
mentioned. 

The first settlers of this town were Jacob Stfem, Bishop 
Adams, and Daniel H. Dana. This is a healthy and pleasant 
town, and contained in 1840, a population of 29. Since that 
time it has increased to 100. There are 20 dwellings in the 
place. One store, one foundry, one carriage-shop, one sad- 

* This mill is now cXvncd ly Josiah Q,. Hedges, a son of Josiah Hedges. 

14 



ii. 



158 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

dier's-shop, one tailor'«-shop, one cabinet-shop, three shoe-shops, 
and one blacksmith's-shop. 

Green Spring is a post-town — the first post-master was Dan- 
iel H. Dana — ^that office is now held by Robert Smith. There 
are two practicing physicians, residents of this town- — S. T. 
Finch and Thomas Cochran. 

On the 30th day of April, 1846, Thomas Heming surveyed 
on section 36, in Adams township, a town, to which the pro- 
prietor, Daniel Kistler, gave the name of Adamsville. It has 
never been improved to any extent. In 1833, a town was sur- 
veyed on section 7, in this township, by David Risdon, to 
which the proprietor, Josiah Hedges, gave the name of " Sul- 
phur Spring," from the springs before described, which are 
near the plat. This town contains but a few houses. 

More than half of the present township of Adams, and so 
much of Pleasant township as lies east of the Sandusky river, 
together with a portion of Clinton and Scipio townships, for-. 
merly belonged to the Seneca Indians. But as we have given 
a geographical description of most of what was formerly their 
grant of land, we proceed to a more minute account of that na- 
tion, and we cannot better introduce this subject, than by giv- 
ing the following, from the scrap-book of Samuel Crowell, of 
Lower Sandusky, which was published in the " Sidney Auro- 
ra," of 1844, as it relates some interesting facts relative to this 
nation ; but more particularly) as it describes their famous chief, 
'* Hard-hickory." 

Says the writer : 

The Senegas who roamed llioee wilds, 

In ages long by-gone, 
Are now rejoicing in the chase, 

Towards the setting sun. 

Their sacrifices offer'd up. 
And Deity appeas'd — 



HISTORY OP &ENECA COUNTY. 15^ 

Their *♦ Father-land" they left in peace, 
"With their exchange well pleased. 

On the first day of February, some fourteen years since, I 
witnessed an interesting, and to me, a novel religious ceremony 
of the Seneca tribe of Indians, then occupying that portion of 
territory now comprising a part of the counties of Seneca and 1/ 
Sandusky, Ohio, familiarly known to the inhabitants of this re- 
gion, as the "Seneca Reservation." 

The fact that this nation had recently ceded this Reserve to 
the United States, and were about to commemorate, for the last 
time in this country^ this annual festival, previous to their emi- 
gration to the Rocky Mountains, contributed not a little to add 
to it an unusual degree of interest. 

To those acquainted with the characteristic trait of the red 
men, it is unnecessary to remark, that there is a reservedness 
attached to them, peculiarly their own ; but, especially, when 
about to celebrate this annual festival, they seem, so far at least 
as the pale-faces are concerned, to shroud their designs in im- 
penetrable secrecy. 

And the festival of which I now speak, might have been, as 
many others of similar character were, observed by themselves 
with due solemnity, and without the knowledge or interference 
of their white neighbors, but that the general poverty and reck- 
less improvidence of the Senecas were proverbial : And those 
were the causes which awakened the suspicions of the inquisi- 
tive Yankees. 

In order, therefore, that the approaching festival, as it was in- 
tended to be the last of those observances here, siiould not lack in 
any thing necessary to make it imposing, and impress a perma- 
nent recollection of Sandusky on the minds of their rising race, 
no effort was spared, and no fatigue regarded, that would tend 
to promote this object. Thus for some time previous to the pe- 
riod of which I am now speaking, by the unerring aim of the 



160 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

Seneca rifle, the antlers, with the body of many a tsJl and 
stately buck, fell prostrate ; and in crowds the Indians now 
came into Lower Sandusky, with their venison and their skins ; 
and the squaws, with their painted baskets and moccasins, not 
as heretofoi'e, to barter for necessaries^ but chiefly for orna^ 
ments. 

The principal head men, or chiefs of the Senecas, were 
''^ Good-hunter y"* ^^ Hard-hickory^''^ and ^'Tall Chief; there 
were also some sub or AaZf-chiefs ; among those of the latter 
rank, Benjainin F. Warner^* a white, or half-breed, had con- 
siderable influence. 

In this, as in other nations, civilized as well as savage, 
though there may be several men of apparent equal rank, yet 
there is usually one, who either by artificial, or universally ac- 
knowledged talent, directs in a great measure, the destinies of 
the nation, and such, among the Senecas, was " Hard-hick- 
ory." 

To a mind of no ordinary grade, he added, from his inter- 
course with the whites, a polish of manner, seldom seen in an 
Indian. The French language, he spoke fluently, and the En- 
glish, intelligibly. Scrupulously adhering to the costume of 
his people, and retaining many of their habits, this chief was 
much endeared to them : while on the other hand, his urbani- 
ty, and for an Indian, he possessed, as already observed, a large 
share of the suaviter in modo ; his intelligence, his ardent at- 
tachment to the whites — and above all, his strict integrity in bu- 
siness transactions, obtained for him, and deservedly, the res- 
pect and confidence of all with whom he traded. Such was 

* Warner was a white man, and had previously been a fireman on one of the steam- 
boats that plied between Buffalo and Green Bay. On one of the downward trips, he per- 
suaded an Indian woman that was traveling to New York, to elope with hira. They 
came to the Seneca nation, and were adopted by them. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 161 

the trust the merchants of Lower Sandusky reposed in this 
chief, that when an indigent Indian came to ask for goods on 
credit, if Hard-hickory would say he would see the sum paid, 
no more was required. Thus his word passed current with, 
and current for, the whole nation. 

And as in the mind of man there is something intuitive, 
better known, than defined, by which instinctively, as it were, 
we find in the bosom of another, a response to our own feel- 
ings ; so in the present case, this noble Indian soon discovered 
in the late Obed Dickinson,* a merchant of Lower Sandusky, 
a generous, confiding, and elevated mind, whose honorable vi- 
brations beat in unison with his own. 

To Mr. D. therefore, he made known the time when they 
would celebrate their festival, by sacrificing their dogs, &c., and 
cordially invited him to attend as a guest ^ and if so disposed, to 
bring a friend with him. 

Correctly supposing that I never had an opportunity of 
witnessing this religious rite, Mr. D. kindly requested me to 
accompany him to their council house, on Green creek, in 
that part of this county included in the present township of 
Green creek. On giving me the invitation, Mr. D. remarked, 
that by taking a present in our hand, we would probably, be 
made the more welcome. In accordance, therefore, with this 
suggestion, we took with us a quantity of loaf sugar and to- 
bacco. 

It was some time in the afternoon when we arrived, and im- 
mediately thereafter, we were ushered into the council house 
with demonstrations of public joy and marked respect. 

As soon as seated, we gave our presents to Hard-hickory, 
who rising, held one of them up, and pointing to Mr. D., ad- 
dressed the Indians in an audible voice, in their own tongue ; 
then holding up the other, he pointed to me, repeating to them 

♦Brother of Hon. R. Dickinson. 

14* 



162 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

what he had before said — this done, he turned to us and said : 

"You stay here as long as you want; nobody hurt you." 
Confiding in the assurances of this chief, 1 hungup my valise, 
in which were some important papers, for I was then on my 
way further east, attending to my official duties as sherif of 
this county, and felt perfectly at home. 

To the inhabitants of this section of Ohio, a minute de- 
scription of the council house, would be deemed unnecessary. 
Suffice it to say, that its dimensions were perhaps, sixty by 
twenty.five feet ; a place in the center for the fire, and corres- 
ponding therewith, an aperture was left on the roof for the 
smoke to ascend. 

Contiguous to the fire-place were two upright posts, four or 
five feet apart; between these posts, a board fourteen or fif- 
teen inches broad, was firmly fastened ; and over this board 
the skin of a deer was stretched very tight. On a seat near 
this board, sat a blind Indian, with a gourd in his hand, in 
which were beans or corn— with this he beat time for the dan- 
cers. Such was the musician, and such the music. 

The dancing had commenced previous to our arrival and 
was continued with little intermission for several successive 
days and nights. An effort by me to describe their manner 
of dancing, would be fruitless. I have witnessed dancing as- 
semblies in populous cities of the east, among the refined class- 
es of society — but having seen nothing like this, I must there- 
fore, pronounce it sui generis. I was .strongly solicited by 
some of the chiefs to unite with them in the dance ; I, however, 
declined the intended honor — but gave to one of them my cane, 
as a proxy^ with which he seemed much delighted. Several of 
their white neighbors, both male and female, entered the ring. 

There was on this occasion a splendid display of ornament. 
Those who have seen the members of a certain society, in their 
most prosperous days, march in procession, in honor of their 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 163 

patron saint, decorated with the badges and insignia of their 
Order, may have some conception of the dress and ornament- 
al decoration of those head men while engaged in the dance. 

I will select " Unume Plurihus.'" Their doctor, as he was 
called, wore very long hair, and from the nape of his neck, 
to the termination of his cue, there was a continuous line of 
pieces of silver — the upper one being larger than a dollar, and 
the lower one less than a half dime. 

Some of the more inferior Indians were stuck over with 
baubles, and hung round with strings. Many of them wore 
small bells tied round their ancles ; and those who could not 
afford bells had deer hoofs in place thereof: these made a jing- 
ling sound as they put down their feet in the dance. 

The squaws also exhibited themselves to the best advantage. 
Several of them were splendidly attired and decorated. Their 
dresses were chiefly o£siIk, of various colors, and some of them 
were of good old fashioned queen'' s gray. These dresses were 
not "cut," as our fair belles would say, a la mode — but they 
were cut and made after their own fashion ; that is, not so 
long as to conceal the scarlet hose covering their ancles, their 
small feet, or their moccasins, which were so ingeniously 
beaded, and manufactured by their own olive hands. 

Nor must I omit saying, that the sobriety and correct de- 
meanor of the Indians, and the modest deportment of the squaws 
merited the highest commendation. 

At the commencement of each dance, or to borrow our own 
phraseology, each "set dance," a chief first rose, and began to 
sing the word " Yah-ho-wah !" with a slow, sonorous and strong 
sxjllaUc emphasis, keeping time with his feet, and advancing 
round the house ; directly another rose, and then in regular 
succession, one after the other, rising and singing the same 
word and falling in the rear, until all the Indians had joined in 
the dance ; next, the squaws, at a respectful distance in the 



164 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

rear, in the same manner, by seniority, rose and united in the 
dance and the song. Now the step was quicker, and the pro- 
nunciation more rapid — all singing and all dancing, while Jim, 
the blind musician, struck harder and faster with his gourd on 
the undressed deer skin ; thus they continued the same dance 
for more than one hour, without cessation ! 

The Indian boys who did not join in the dance, amused them- 
selves the meanwhile, discharging heavy loaded muskets 
through the aperture in the roof, the reverberations of which 
were almost deafening. Taken altogether, to the eye and the 
ear of a stranger, it seemed like frantic festivity. 

Tall Chief, who was confined to his bed by indisposition, felt 
it so much his duty to join in the dance with his people, that he 
actually left his bed, notwithstanding it was mid- winter, came to 
the council house, and took part in the dance as long as he 
was able to stand. 

About the " noon of night," Hard-hickory invited Mr. D. 
and myself to accept of a bed at his residence ; to this propo- 
sition we readily assented. Here we were hospitably provi- 
ded for, and entertained in a style which I little anticipated. 
Even among many of our white inhabitants, at this early day, 
a curtained bed was a species of luxury not often enjoyed — 
such was the bed we occupied. 

Shortly after our arrival at the house of this chief, Mr. D. 
retired ; not so with our friendly host and myself — while sit- 
ting near a clean brick hearth, before a cheerful fire, Hard- 
hickory unbosomed himself to me unreservedly. Mr. D. was 
asleep, and the chief and I were the only persons then in 
the house. 

Hard-hickory, among other things, told me it was owing 
chiefly to him that this feast was now celebrated ; that it was 
in part to appease the anger of the Good Spirit, in consequence 



HISTORY OP SENECA COCTNTY. 165 

of a dream he lately had, and as an explanation he gave me 
the followmg narration : 

" He dreamed he was fleeing from an enemy — it was, he sup- 
posed, something supernatural^ perhaps an evil spirit ; that af- 
ter it had pursued him a long time, and for a great distance, 
and every effort to escape from it seemed impossible, as it was 
now just at his heels, and he almost exhausted ; at this peril- 
ous time he saw a large water, to which he made with all his re- 
maining strength, and at the very instant when he expected each 
bound to be his last, he beheld, to his joy, a caiioe, near ihe 
shore ; this appeared as his last hope ; breathless, and faint, 
he threw himself into it, and that moment, of its own accord^ 
quick as an arrow from the bow, it shot from the shore leav- 
ing his pursuer on the beach." 

While relating this circumstance to me, which he did with 
earnestness, trepidation, and alarm, strongly expressed in his 
countenance, he took from his bosom something neatly and 
very carefully enclosed in several distinct folds of buck-skin. 
This he began to unrol, laying each piece by itself, and on 
opening the last, there was enclosed therein, a canoe in min- 
iature. 

On handing it to me to look at, he remarked that no oth- 
er person save himself and me, had ever seen it, and that, as 
a memento, he would wear it in his bosom as " long as he lived." 

It was a piece of light wood, resembling cork, about six 
inches long, and, as intended, so it was, a perfect model of a 
canoe ^ ^ ###### 

The night now being far advanced, he pointed to the bed, 
and told me to sleep there ; but that he must go to the council 
house to the dance, for his people would not like it, if he would 
stay away, and wishing me good night, he withdrew. 

The proceedings of the next day, have already been related. 
[See conclusion of Chapter II.] 



CHAPTER XII. 

f>eath of Hard-hickory — Benjamin F. Warner — Peter Pork — Charlieu — 

Jacob Nicely. 

An annuity of sixteen hundred dollars was due, from the 
state of New York, for a limited number of years, to certain 
families of Cayugas, of which Hard-hickory's, was one, and 
previous to their removal, was regularly paid to them at their 
old home, upon the Sandusky river.* By an arrangement 
with the government in their treaty at Washington, that annu- 
ity was to be forwarded to them, at their new home, on the Ne- 
osho, through the hands of the government agents. 

In the year 1834, a draft, for the sum due them from the 
state of New York, was forwarded and received by them ; and 
in order to make a distribution of the money amongst those en- 
titled to receive it, it was necessary to have the draft cashed, for 
which purpose Hard-hickory, with George Herrin, for inter- 
preter, were delegated to go to Fort Gibson. They went— 
sold their draft, and received the money. 

Hard-hickory then proposed to Herrin, a trip to Washing- 
ton city to see after the business of the tribe, relative to the 
sale of their lands in Ohio. Said he, "let us go while we 
have this money ; it will make no difference to our people, as 
our great father, the president, will pay us back all the money 

* For this statement relative to the death of Hard-hickory, I am indebted to Henry 
C, Brish. He received it personally, from Smali-cloud-Spicer, a chief of the Senccas, 
in the year 1836, 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY, 167 

we spend in going there, and returning home, as he did when 
we went to make our treaty." So off they started for Wash- 
ington. For more than a month they revelled in all the luxu- 
ries and dissipation of that city, until they were tired of them, 
when they determined to return to their homes. They then 
requested the commissioner of Indian affairs to reimburse the 
amount they had expended, and furnish means for their return, 
which could not be complied with. 

On arriving at home, their money was nearly gone. Hickory 
was then called before his people to give an account of himself. 
He stated that there was something wrong about the draft, 
and he had to go to Washington to arrange it — that the presi- 
dent said it should all be made right, and they would get the 
money soon, all in silver. 

Doubting this statement, they sent a messenger to Fort Gib- 
son, to ascertain the truth. He reported, on his return, that 
Hickory had drawn the money for the draft, and consequently, 
the chief's statement to the contrary, was false. A solemn 
council was called, before which he was summoned to appear, 
and this he did accordingly. To the charge of falsehood he 
plead guilty, and attempted not to palliate the ofiense or to justify 
it, but threw himself upon the mercy of his people, offering at 
the same time, to surrender all his horses and other property, 
as an indemnity for the money spent, which would have been 
sufficient, or nearly so, to have satisfied the amount. For sev- 
eral days the council went on, and some were for saving his 
life ; but a large majority were against him. He had betray- 
ed his trust, and dishonored his high station as a chief At 
length the verdict came that Hard-hickory was sentenced to 
die. 

If Hickory had stood forth before his people, and asserted 
at once the truth of the matter, he would have preserved his 
honor ; and from my knowledge of the tribe to which he be- 



168 KtSTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

longed, says Mr. Brish, I have no doubt, but that he would 
have saved his life. 

In hopes that they would come to terms, and spare him ; and 
believing that no one would attempt to kill him in the presence 
of his wife, who was much respected by the tribe, he confined 
himself to his house, heavily armed. For several days and 
nights, his house was surrounded. At length the notorious 
Shane, (who was one of the murderers of Seneca John,) vol- 
unteered to kill him in his house. Shane, having just return- 
ed from the Cherokee country, went that night to the house of 
Hickory, who was his uncle, and rapped at the door. Hickory 
recognized his voice, and supposed he would have one friend 
who would try to save him. 

On being assured that no one accompanied him, Hickory di- 
rected his wife to unbar the door, and let him in, which she 
did. Shane wore a blanket, and approached Hickory in the 
middle of the room, holding out his left hand, whilst his right 
was under his blanket, holding the handle of a long knife. 
Hickory held out his right hand to Shane, and as soon as their 
hands were grasped, Shane drew his knife, and stabbed Hickory 
through the body, and then dragged him out of doors, where 
several Indians stabbed and tomahawked him I Thus perished 
the renowned chief, Hard-hickory, with the seal of falsehood^ 
stamped upon his hitherto unblemish'ed name^ 

In the previous chapter, mention was made of Benjamin F. 
Warner. Judging from the dress of that individual — says Mr. 
Brish — which was entirely Indian, and the fact that he was al^ 
most constantly with Hard-hickory, and other chiefs, of whom he 
was a great favorite, my friend, Samuel Crowell, might readily 
have supposed, that he was part Indian, as well as a sui-chief — 
such, however, was not the case. He neither spoke their lan- 
guage at that time, nor had a drop of Indian blood in him—he 
was a Yankee. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 1^0 

Ben, was a good fellow, as will be shown by a circumstance, 
which I will hereafter relate. He came among the Senecas 
but a short time previous to their removal to their new homes, 
having, for a wife, a Mohican woman, from Green Bay, whose 
name was Betsey Kon-ke-pot, and was adopted with his wife 
and child into the Seneca tribe, and in common with them, 
drew a proportion of the annuity money due from the govern- 
ment. He became a sort of Major Domo of the tribe, making 
their bargains, and adjusting their settlements of business 
transactions with their white neighbors. If a horse was miss- 
ing, Ben. could track him with unerring precision, till he found 
him. He could stock a gun or a plow, build a house, tan a 
skin, in short was always ready for sport, or work, and withal, 
remarkable for sobriet}'-. 

He emigrated with the Senecas. His wife died on the jour- 
ney soon after crossing the Mississippi river, and Ben, with 
his child, went on with the tribe to their new homes upon the 
Neosho. 

On reaching the west paTt of the state of Missouri — con- 
tinues Mr. Brish — we came to a solitary cabin, far beyond 
any other habitation, which we found occupied by a woman 
and three or four children, all of whom had been sick of the 
fever, of which the husband of the woman, and father of the 
children had but recently died, and was buried by his own 
family near the door. They were in an utter state of destitu- 
tion, almost without clothing, and totally without provisions. 

We supplied them abundantly with such things as they need- 
ed. At that time, Warner was acting as one of my teamsters, 
and had with him a cow, which he bought of a frontier settler, 
and was driving her to the Indian country for his own Use. 
After we had left the cabin some distance, I heard the woman 
call out— -^'^OM have left a cow hehirid.'^ On looking back, I 
saw Warner's cow in a small picket enclosure, near the house, 
15 



170 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

and immediately drew his attention to the fact. His reply 
was, "I put her there — guess the woman '11 want her worse 
than I shall!" So the cow was left, and Benjamin Franklin 
Viarner proved, that under a rough exterior, he carried a no- 
ble and generous heart. 

There were many Indians among the Senecas, who were 
highly esteemed, for their uprightness and honesty, by their 
white neighbors — many that were respected for their kindness, 
hospitality and civility — -yet there was owe, who was, in every 
respect, a savage — a perfect monster ; delighting in the shed- 
ding of blood, whether of friends, or foes. This was Peter 
Pork, the Indian who caused the death of Benajah Parker. 

Pork was a Cayuga, and the terror of his nation. Strong- 
arm-Tequania, an Indian of his tribe, was killed by him. It 
occurred just before the fatal affray with Parker. Both had 
been at Lower Sandusky, and as they were returning home, 
somewhat intoxicated, they concluded to try the speed of their 
horses. A race ensued, which ended in a regular fight — or 
duel — between them. The weapons chosen were axes ! Te- 
quania was mangled in a terrible manner. His wounds, which 
were deep and fatal, were dressed by Dr. Ely Dresbach, of Tif- 
fin. After nine days' suffering he expired. 

An Indian woman, usually known as " Thomas Brandt's 
old wife," was also killed by this Indian. She was then at 
a very advanced age, and lived in a log hut, at some distance 
from any of her tribe, entirely alone. She was met one day 
by Peter Pork, (who had accused her of witch-craft,) who 
tomahawked her without farther ceremony. He tlien covered 
her remains with brush, near the spot where she had fallen. 
A search was instituted, and her body found some distance 
from the place where it had been left, horribly mangled by the 
wolves ! We are informed, that since the Senecas removed to 
the west, he has killed another Indian, named Joseph Silas, who 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 171 

was greatly beloved by the whites while living upon the San- 
dusky. As many as eight Indians, in all, are known to have 
been slain by this savage. 

There was an old Indian living upon the Vanmeter tract, a 
Mohawk, whose name was Charlieu, who was famous for his 
animosity to the Americans. At the age of about twenty-five, 
he fought with the rest of the Canadian Indians, under Mont- 
calm, upon the heights of Abraham, where the brave and gen- 
erous Wolfe was killed. At that time he was married, and had 
one child. He fought during the last war, on the side of the 
British, and had a large number of scalps in his possession when 
in this county, which he had taken during the war. He join- 
ed the Seneca Indians, with the rest of his tribe, in 1829, and 
with them, started for the west. At St. Louis, he was taken 
sick, and died on the 26th of April, 1832. As he wore sev- 
eral crosses suspended from his long hair, he was claimed by 
the , Roman Catholics, and received a Christian burial in the 
Catholic church-yard of that city. He was supposed to be over 
one hundred years of age when he died. He spoke Frencli 
fluently and was well known to the first settlers of this county. 

It has already been stated, that the frontiers of New York, 
Pennsylvania, and Virginia, during the Revolutionary war, 
were continually harassed by the murderous incursions of 
the savages from the region of the Sandusky, and from 
Canada. 

Besides those captive whites, whose homes were formerly 
within the limits of this county, and who had a quantity of 
land granted to each, at the treaty of the rapids of the Miami 
of Lake Erie, in 1817, there was one to whom no land was 
granted, whose history is somewhat remarkable. He was a 
son of a Mr. Nicely, then a resident of the state of Pennsyl- 
vania, on the banks of the Loyal Hannah river, and was cap- 
tured by the Wyandot Indians, 



172 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

It was a pleasant day in the summer, and two daughters of 
Mr. Nicely proceeded to a hay-field, not far away, for the pur- 
pose of gathering berries. Taking with them their youngest 
brother, who was then about three years of age, they placed 
him upon a pile of hay, and went some distance to seek 
for berries. While thus employed the child was discovered 
and carried off by a band of Wyandots, who were lurking 
about the settlements in that vicinity. 

But the little fellow cried so loud, and, as the Indians said, 
*' made a noise so much like a crow," that they gave him 
the name of that bird.* By this title, he was ever after known 
among the Indians. He was adopted by the Wyandots, and 
educated in all the arts of savage warfare. 

Many years subsequent, his father learning that there were 
captives residing upon the banks of the Sandusky river, de- 
termined to visit this country, in hopes of finding his long 
lost son. He came to Upper Sandusky, and after visiting all 
the whites among the Wyandot Indians, without receiving 
any intelligence of him, and with hopes well nigh exhaust- 
ed, he proceeded down the river to the home of the Senecas- 

After first calling upon Spicer, he went to the residence of 
" the Crow." The instant the old man fixed his eyes upon 
him, he exclaimed — " Yoti are my son ! Is your name 
Jacob ?" The Crow replied in the affirmative ; as he had 
never forgotten his name. The anxious father then exam- 
ined one of the arms of his son, and found a scar, produced 
by a burn, when a child. This was a sufficient identity ; and 
we can imagine the heart-felt joy of the old man as he gazed 
long upon his swarthy features. 

He then tried to persuade his son to leave the Indians and 
return with him to his home. But no : there was too much 

* In Indian he was railed Che-kaw-wa. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 173 

pleasure in roaming the deep wild-woods — too much glory and 
delight in the excitement of the chase ! The unfettered, un- 
restrained indulgences of an Indian's life, were far more con- 
genial to his feelings, than the habits, manners and forced re- 
straints of civilized society. No persuasion — no argument, 
was for a moment listened to, as all that was dear to him was 
here ; and to leave them all forever, he could — he would not. 
His father was wealthy and offered him land. But what cared 
he for riches or lands ? Freedom in the " far west " was all 
he desired ; and the hunting-grounds of his youth were much 
more to be preferred, than the fenced and cultivated fields of 
his native state. 

But after much importunity, he consented to return and 
make his mother a shori visit. Accordingly, both started on 
their journey ; but the first night, at the house where they 
had put up, and when all were asleep around him, the recoU 
lection of by-gone days, and years spent in tranquil secu- 
rity upon the banks of the Sandusky, made the Crow already 
anxious to return. While these things were revolving in his 
mind, the idea occurred to him, that, when he had once reach- 
ed the place of his nativity, his relations would strive to 
compel him to remain. He immediately resolved to return ; 
and before day-break, he arose and retraced his steps to his 
family and his home. His father proceeded on, dispirited and 
discouraged ; and soon after died of a hroken heart ! Such 
is the force of education ; and such the power of paternal af- 
fection. 

The Crow's place of residence was in Pleasant township — 
this county — upon the farm at present owned by the heirs of 
the late Israel P. Haines. He emigrated with the Senecas to 
the west, and died of the cholera, in 1833, on the banks of 
the Neosho river. A truly honest man, he was highly res= 
15* 



174 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

pected by all who knew him ; although a perfect Indian in 
habits and manners. He spoke Indian and French fluently, 
and the English intelligibly, and was often employed as inter- 
preter by the Americans. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Murder of Drake — Seneca township — Berwick — Hopewell township — 
Bascom — Loudon township — Rome — Risdon — Liberty township — 
Bettsville — Jackson township. 

It has been stated that at the time of establishing the first 
post-office at Oakley, there was but one mail-route through the 
county, leading from Lower Sandusky to Columbus. Many 
years ago, the mail was carried along this route, by a young 
man, (a son of Judge Drake, of Marion,) who was killed, as 
was supposed at that time, by an Indian. He was found, torn 
by the wolves; and there were marks of a knife also discovered 
upon his body. 

In 1830, Judge Drake came to this county to find out, if 
possible, who the murderer of his son was ; or to what tribe 
he belonged. He called upon Mr. Brish, then agent of the 
Senecas ; and, in company with the latter, proceeded to the resi- 
dence of Jacob Nicely or "the Crow." The interpreter em- 
ployed, was Martin Lane. Upon being interrogated, the 
Crow stated that the son of Judge Drake was killed by an In- 
dian whose name was ^^ Big Kettles,^'' and that, as soon as he 
committed the murder, he fled to Canada. The judge return- 
ed home, fully satisfied that his son was murdered by a Cana- 
dian Indian. But such was not the fact. Mr. Brish, some 
time subsequently, asked George Herrin what Indian was called 
"Big Kettles." The reply was, that it was Spicer, ihe- white 
man who lived upon the banks of the Sandusky. 



176 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

It appears that the young man had passed over to the east 
side of the river ; and, when near Spicer's residence, was met 
by him and accompanied to the place where he was to cross 
back to the west side of the river. Spicer mounted the horse 
behind him ; and as soon as they had reached the opposite 
bank, he drew his knife, and reaching around the young man, 
with one effort cut him nearly in twain ! 

He then dragged him behind an old log near a spring, which 
is just below the dam of John Keller, on the Sandusky river. 
-As soon as this was done, he proceeded to Crow's house, who, 
observing that he was covered with blood, inquired if he had 
killed a deer. Spicer replied, that he had killed a white man, 
whereupon Crow ordered him to be gone, as, in all probability, 
he would be pursued; and if traced to his (Crow's) residence, 
they might suspect him as being accessory to the murder. 
Spicer fled to Canada, but after a while returned. These par- 
ticulars, until related to Mr. Brish, were kept a profound se- 
cret. 

Soon after the Senecas concentrated upon the Sandusky, they 

erected their first council house upon the river bank on the 
farm at present owned and occupied by General Treat, in what 
is now Sandusky county. This tribe had several burying- 
grounds, the principal of which was at the old council house, 
and contained, about 20 acres of land within the enclosure. 
The majority of the Seneca Indians lived in log cabins, while 
the chiefs, generally resided in good comfortable houses. They 
usually hunted over all this section of country — -on the Mau- 
mee, and sometimes around the marshes near New Haven. 

But now these sons of the forest are gone ; and truly can 
the early settlers of this county exclaim that, we are now sur- 
rounded by a new race of inhabitants. The almost unprece- 
dented influx of population which has poured in upon us from 
the east, and the south, has gathered around us a new genera- 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 177 

tion, so that we of the " olden time," seem now to live in the 
midst of strangers ! The red men of the forest have disap- 
peared — the pioneer, shunning the society of the refined and 
intelligent, has gone to the ultima thule or the " far west," 
and the squatter has followed his footsteps ! 

On the 8th day of May, 1820, the commissioners of San- 
dusky county set off a township, in this county, which inclu- 
ded all of the land west of a line drawn south to the base-line 
from the south-east corner of the Seneca reservation, and to 
which they gave the name of Seneca. 

Portions have been taken from this township at various times, 
to form new ones, so that at present it comprehends the origin- 
al surveyed township No. 1, in the 14th range, only. The 
land included within its present limits was surveyed into sec- 
tions and quarter sections by J. T. Worthington in 1820. 

The first election for township ofBcers was held on Mon- 
day, the 1st day of June, 1820. At the next annual election 
the following officers were chosen : W. Barney, John Lay, 
and David Risdon, trustees ; John Eaton, clerk; Benjamin Bar- 
ney, treasurer; Joseph Keller and David Rice, overseers of 
the poor ; James Montgomery, Erastus Bowe, and Joel Chaf- 
fin, supervisors ; P. Wilson, lister ; Asa Pike, appraiser ; 
Thomas Nicholson, and Abner Pike, fence-viewers ; John 
Boughton, and Joel Lee, constables. At the state election in the 
fall of the same year, the whole number of votes polled in Sen- 
eca township, which comprehended at that time about three- 
fourths of the whole county, was twenty-six ! 

In 1830 the population of this township was 369. In 1840, 
it had augmented to 1,393. It has since steadily and rapidly 
increased in population and in wealth — numbering among its 
enterpising farmers, Hon. Henry St. John, Wm. McCormick, 
Alexander Bowland, John Galbreth, Peter Wickert, Joseph 
Conaghan, William Kerr, Caleb Brundage, Daniel Hoffman, 



178 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

John Yambert, David Foght, William Harmon, Jacob Steib, 
Benjamin Harmon, John Blair, George Heck, Jacob Wolfe, 
John Waggoner, James Aiken, James BrinkerhofF, John Crock- 
er, Jacob Kroh, and many others. 

In addition to the other Indian grants made at the treaty held 
at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, in 1817, 
there was likewise granted to Catharine Walker, a Wyandot 
woman, and to John B. Walkei', her son, who was wounded in 
the service of the United States, a section of 640 acres of land, 
lying mostly within the present limits of this township, and 
directly west of, and adjoining the tract in Eden township, 
granted to John Vanmeter, which is owned by Lloyd Norris. 

On the 15th day of April, 1845, Henry F. Kastner, Wil- 
liam Brinkerhoff, and John Campbell, caused to be surveyed on 
section nineteen, in this township, a town, to which was given 
the name o^BenoicJc. It was surveyed and platted by Thomas 
Homing. It contains nine dwellings, two stores, one tavern, 
one steam saw-mill, one wagon-shop, one shoe-shop, one tailor- 
shop, and one blacksmith's-shop. Its population is seventy. 

Berwick is situated on the Tiffin and Findla^/, and on the 
Bucyrus and Perrysburg state road. It is located also upon 
the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail-road, nine miles from Tif- 
fin, tlie county seat of the county. 

On the 7th day of December, 1824, the original surveyed 
township. No. 2, in the 14th range, was constituted a legal 
township, and received the name of Hopewell. The first 
election for township officers was held on Christmas-day of the 
same year, at the house of Joseph Pool.* 

This township was surveyed into sections and quarter sec- 
tions by J. T. Worthington, in the year 1820. Among the 

* There were chosen at this election the following officers: John Rosenberger, 
John Stoner,and Nathan Cadwallader, trustees ; James Gordon, clerk ; JohnStoner, 

treasurer. 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 179 

first settlers of this township, were Robert Shippy, John Cha- 
ncy, and Nathan Shippy. In 1830, its population was 549. — 
In 1840 it had augmented to 913. Since that time it has 
rapidly increased in population and wealth ; numbering among 
its enterprising farmers, A. G. Ingraham, Jacob S. Jennings, 
John Sleeper, David Cover, James Mathews, John A. Ros- 
enberger, George Shaul, John Kimes, Henry Creager, Abra- 
ham Miller, Christian Mussetter, Andrew Wolf, William Rick- 
ets, William Kimes, John Mowser, John Baughman, A. R. 
Bachtel, John Anderson, Aaron Ruse, S. Watson, Solomon 
Ruse, Thomas Elder, John Briner, Philip King, Peter AVeav- 
er, Hiram Hart, Peter Young, and others. 

The land in this township is remarkably rich, producing 
all kinds of grain and grass in abundance. The surface is 
very level, and well watered. 

On the 1st day of February, 1837, George W. Gist sur- 
veyed on section 17, in this township, a town, to which the 
proprietor, John Miller, gave the name of Bascom. 

This town contains twelve dwellings, one store two taverns, 
one cabinet-shop, one wagon-shop, one tannery, one black- 
smhh's-shop, and a district school-house. In 1840, its popula- 
tion was 6. Since that time it has increased to 60. 

Bascom is situated on the Tiffin and Defiance state road, six 
miles from the former place. 

On the 6th day of August, 1836, James Durbin surveyed a 
town on section 16, in this township, to which the proprietor, 
Samuel Waggoner, gave the name of Hopewell. This town 
has never been improved. 

On the 5th day of March, 1832, by order of the board of 
commissioners, the original surveyed township. No. 2, in range 
13, was constituted a legal township, to be known by the name 
of Loudon, It was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, 
in 1820. The first election for township officers was held at 



180 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

the house of Benjamin Hartley on the 2d day of April, 1832,* 

Loudon is very well watered, and possesses a rich and fertile 
soil. In 1840 its population was 763. Since that time it has 
increased steadily and rapidly in population and importance ; 
numbering among its enterprising farmers, Samuel Bear, Ja- 
cob Rumple, Benjamin Stevens, Martin Adams, Benjamin Hart- 
ley, Abner Wade, Philip Hennessy, Robert Rainy, Jacob Fruth, 
George Hemming, Peter Ebersole, Henry Sheller, David 
Youngs, Conrad Rumple, Jacob Kaiser, John Good, Peter T. 
King, John Rinebolt, Jacob Dillon, Thomas Dillon, Nathan 
Shippy, and many others. 

On the 31st day of August, 1832, Roswell Crocker caused 
to be surveyed on section 6, in this township, a town^ to which 
was given the name of Rome. 

It was surveyed and platted by David Risdon.' Rom-e is 
pleasantly situated, and is surrounded by a beautiful country. It 
contains fifty dwellings, two churches, three stores, two taverns, 
two steam saw-mills, two tanneries, two st«am grist-mills, one 
w-arehouse, two cabinet-shops, three shoe-shops, three tailors'- 
shops, two saddlers'-shops, and five blacksmiths'-shops. There 
are three physicians, residents of this town — Alonzo Lock- 
wood, George Patterson, and Simon Bricker. 

In 1840 the population was 80. At this time, it is about 
300 and is rapidly increasing in population and wealth. Its 
appearance is pleasant, and there is probably no town in the 
county, away from the line of the Rail-road, which is more 
favorably situated for business, than Rome. It is located upon 
the Lower Sandusky and Fort Findlay state road ; upon the 

* There were ten electors present at this election ; the vote for each officer was unan- 
imous. The following was the successful ticket: Abner VVade, justice of the peace ; 
John Tennis, clerk ; Benjamin Stevens, Peter T. King, and John Rickets, trustees ; 
Samuel Carbaugh, constable ; Benjamin Hartley, supervisor; Abner W^ade and Nathan 
Shippy, overseers of the poor ; Benjamin Stevens, treasurer •, Nathan Shippy, John 
Ruse, and John Sheller, fence-viewers. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 181 

Defiance and Tiffin state road ; and upon the Bucyrus and Per- 
rysburg state road. 

It is 22 miles from Lower Sandusky, the county-seat of 
Sandusky county; Uh miles from Findlay, county-seat of 
Hancock county ; 14 from Tiffin, the county-seat of this coun- 
ty ; 66 miles from Defiance, county-seat of Defiance county ; 
36 miles from Bucyrus, county-seat of Crawford county ; 31 
miles from Perrysburg, county-seat of Wood county; 25 
miles from Upper Sandusky, county-seat of Wyandot county ; 
12 miles from Van Buren, Hancock county; 10| miles from 
Springville, this county ; and 80 rods east of the Hancock 
county line. 

On the 6th day of September, 1832, J. Gorsuch caused to 
be surveyed on section one, in township No. 2, in the 12th 
range, in Hancock county— and on section six, in Loudon 
township, this county, a town, to which the proprietor gave 
the name of Risdon, It was surveyed and platted by Wil- 
liam L. Henderson, of Hancock county, and David Risdon, 
of this county. It was thus named, in compliment to the lat- 
ter gentleman, who is at present, a i-esident of New Fort Ball 
Among the first settlers of Risdon, were Henry Welch, 
Jeremiah Mickey and John P. Gordon. It contains 30 dwel- 
lings, one church, one tavern, three stores, one carding-ma- 
chine propelled by steam, one steam saw-mill, one foundry, 
one tannery, one cabinet-shop, one wagon-shop, two shoe-shops, 
two saddlers'-shops and three blacksmiths'-shops. In 1840, its 
population was 39. It is now 200. There are two physicians, 
residents of the place— Marcus Dana, and R. C. Caples. 
Risdon is a post-town— the present post-master, is William 
Thomas. The town is pleasantly situated on the bank of the 
east branch of the Portage river ; and is steadily increasing in 
population and wealth. 

On the 5th day of June, 1832, the commissioners of the 
16 



182 HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

county constituted the original surveyed township, No. 3, in 
range 14, a legal one, to be known by the name of Laberty.^ 

The land comprehended within the limits of this township, 
was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, by J. T. 
Worthington, in 1820. In 1840 its population was 1,084. 
Since that time it has steadily and rapidly increased in popula- 
tion and wealth — numbering among its enterprising farmers, 
Jonathan Abbott, George Pufienbarger, John Mickels, Jacob 
Null, Reuben Lott, John Fowl, Jacob Fleck, John Shaul, Lewis 
Fleck, John Baughman, Daniel Lynch, George Feasel, Thomas 
Huse, Henry Feasel, John Berky, Jacob Sise, Henry Craul, 
John Sigler, Martin Edwards, Joseph Fry, Barney Zimmer- 
man, John Beck, Robert Fowl, Israel Smith, R. Littler, E. 
Brooks, Levi Creasy, Orrin Betz, Philip Myers, E. Rogers, 
Isaac Myers, George Dunbar, Jacob Myers, John Betz, Fred- 
erick Rosenberger, and many others. 

In the north-eastern part of this township, is a tract of land 
about three miles in length, and three-fourths of a mile in 
width, remarkably stony. In some places, the lime-stone rock 
literally covers the ground. In others, it is not so thickly cov- 
ered, and tolerable crops are raised. The lime-stone, by being 
exposed to the weather, becomes white, giving to the land a 
singular appearance. This tract is the more remarkable, as 
the county in general, is so very free from any thing of the 
kind. 

The balance of the township, is quite level, possessing a rich 
soil, and producing an abundance of grass, and all kinds of 
grain. The west branch of Wolf creek passes in a north- 
easterly direction through this township, upon which several 

* At the election for township officers, held April 1st, 1833, the following was the suc- 
cessful ticket: 

John Rosenberger, Evan W. Brook, and Jacob Kime, trustees; John Craun, clerk; 
Eben Conway, and Nicholas Rumbangh, constables ; Adam Fleck, Isaac Heartsock, 
James Hudson, Levi Crissy, and Joseph H. Conway, supervisors. 



HISTORY OP SENECA COUNTY. 183 

saw-mills have been erected. Water runs sufficient, in this 
stream, to drive these mills over six months of the year. 

Middlehurgj a town surveyed by David Risdon, on the 8th 
of September, 1832, is situated on section m'ne, in this township. 
It is located on the land of Jacob Kessler, and has never been 
improved. 

On the 12th day of April, 1838, John Betz caused to be 
surveyed on section three^ in this township, a town, to which 
he gave the name of Betzville. It was surveyed and platted 
by David Risdon, surveyor. 

Betzville is pleasantly situated on the south side of the west 
branch of Wolf creek, and contains seven dwellings, two 
churches, one cabinet-shop, and one shoe-shop. In 1840, its 
population was 23. Since that time it has increased to 40. 

On the 4th day of December, 1832, the original surveyed 
township, No. 3, in range 13, was constituted a legal township, 
and named Jackson. The land comprised within its limits, 
was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, by J. Glasgow, 
in 1820. The first election for township officers, was held on 
the 3d of April, 1833, at the house of Abraham Rinebolt.* 

In 1840, the population of this township was 586. Since 
that time it has rapidly increased. The land is generally very 
level, and the soil is rich and fertile. Among its enterpris- 
ing farmers, are Jonas Hampshire, Michael Stahl, Enoch 
Trumbo, Abraham^JRitiebolt, C. Foster, George Stoner, John 
Lambright, Jacob" Stahl, Frederick Feble, Henry Swoap, John 
Lynch, Daniel Swoap, James Robertson, Conrad Myers, Gid- 
eon Jones, Jacob Kimmel, Henry Huffman, George Stahl, 

* The officers chosen at this election, were as follows: Christian Foster, John Stom- 
baugh and Michael Stahl, trustees ; Henry Huffman and Abraham Rinebolt, supervisors; 
Samuel Rinebolt, Andrew Ferrier and Daniel Swoap, overseers of the poor ; Enoch 
Trumbo, clerk ; Daniel Williams, treasurer ; Joseph Hampshire and Jacob Holinger, 
fence-viewers. 



184 HISTOEY OP SENECA COUNTY. 

John Bear, William Stahl, Isaac Miller, John W. HoUopeter, 
Mathias Hollopeter, and others. 

On the 7th day of December, 1844, Isaiah Hollopeter 
caused to be surveyed on section seventeen^ in this township, a 
town, to which he gave the name of Rehohoth, It was survey- 
ed and platted by Thomas Heming. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Big-spring township — Springville— Oregoa — Productions of the county-^ 

Conclusion. 

On the 6th day of March, 1833, the original surveyed town- 
ship No. 1, in the 13th range, was constituted a legal town- 
ship, and received the name of Big-spring. It was thus 
named from the circumstance of there being a large spring of 
water within its limits. The first election for township officers 
wa/held on the 4th day of ^^pril, of the same year.* 

Hugh Mulholland, E. Bogart, John Peer, Hiram Bogart, 
Philip Peer, and Austin Knowlton, were among the first set- 
tlers of this township. Big-spring was surveyed into sections 
and quarter sections, by J. Glasgow, in 1820, except that part 
of the township which, was then owned by the Wyandot Indi- 
ans, and which was surveyed by C. W. Christmas in 1832. 
The population of Big-spring, according to the census of 1840, 
amounted to 925. Since that time it has rapidly increased in 
population and in wealth, numbering among its enterprising 
farmers — Jacob Boucher, Peter Lantz, John Jinkins, Isaac 
DeWit, Frederick Waggoner, Ira Taft, William Blue, Israel 
Harmas, JohnHile, W. Burgess, Nathan L. Huling, George 
Kline, Austin Knowlton, Peter Wenner, M. Clark, John Wag- 

* The officers chosen at this election, were as follows: William Brayton, clerk ; E. 
Bogart, and Richard Reynolds, trustees ; Hugh Mulholland, treasurer ; Cornelius Bo- 
gart, Andrew Springer, and Joshua Watson, fence-viewers ; Elijah Brayton and Charles^ 
Henderson, overseers of the poor •, Austin Knowlton, constable, 

16* 



186 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

goner, Francis Etchey, Michael Waggoner, Lewis Shane}> 
James W. Laughead, William Clark, Sen,, and many others. 

The land in Big-spring township is generally level, but the 
soil is rich, producing all kinds of grain and grass in abun- 
dance. 

At the treaty held at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of 
Lake Erie, September 28th, 1817, the United States granted 
to the Wyandot Indians, then residing at Solomon's town, and 
on Blanchard's fork, sixteen thousand acres of land, which 
was laid off in a square form, the center being at Big-spring, 
(now the town of Springville,) on the trailed road from Upper 
Sandusky to Fort Findlay. 

At a supplementary treaty, held September 17th, 1818,, 
with the Indians, a very wise provision was made to protect 
them from imposition, which had so often been practiced upon 
them by the avaricious whites. It- was stipulated, that all 
lands granted them by the United States, could not be disposed 
of except by the consent of the president. 

Part of the land in Big-spring township consists of prairie ; 
and in tlie southern section is a ridge, which is quite stony. 
The land is heavy timbered and well watered. 

On the 20th of September, 182.5, Elijah Brayton,, then a 
resident of Crawford (now Wj-andot) county, who resides 
near Springville, in this township, lost a child, a lad about 
eight years of age, who has never since- been heard of* It 
appeal's that the boy had followed an elder brother and a neigh- 
boring friend, who were seeking for some cattle thai had. 
strayed away, when the little fellov/ was directed to a house 
near by, while the others proceeded onward. He followed 
the path which had been pointed out to him, but a short distance, 
when, it is supposed he became bewildered, and immediately 

■* We have the particulars of this event orally, from a sister of the lost child, the wife 
of David Burns, of Springville.. 



HISTOjRY op SENECA COUNTY. 187 

took to the woods* On the return of the others to the house 
where they expected to find him, they learned to their sur- 
prise, that he had not been seen. Alarm was immediately 
given. The inhabitants for many miles around turned out, 
and the whole country for a considerable distance, in every di- 
rection was thoroughly searched. The Indians were particu- 
larly assiduous in their generous endeavors to find the child, 
but all to no avail. 

A large reward was afTered to the one who should find him, 
or any of his remains ; but after many days, as no traces 
o-f the little fellow had ever been discovered, the search was 
finally abandoned. Some imagined he had been torn to pieces 
by wolves ; some, that he had been stolen by the Indians ; 
while others were of the opinion,^ that he had died of want in 
some secluded spot. What became of the unfortunate child, 
will, ill all probability, remain forever unknown I 

During this search, Neal McGafFey and other citizens of 
Fort Ball, who had likewise left their homes upon this occa- 
sion, encamped for the night upon the site of the present town 
of Romej in Loudon township, which was then a dense- wil- 
derness. Being highly pleased with the spot of ground, and 
the appearance of the woods around, they jocosely called it 
''Fort McGaffey." 

In the month of May, 1834, David Risdon sui^veyed, on 
section twenty-nine, in Big-spring township, a town, to which 
the proprietors, Benjamin and John Jenkins, gave the name of 
Springtille. It was thus named, as there is a large spring 
of water immediately west of the town. Unlike those in 
Adams township, the water from this spring, has no traces 
of sulphur, but isclear,^ cold, and impregnated with lime. The 
site of this town, which was formerly an Indian village, is 
very beautiful. It contains twelve dwellings, two taverns, one 
wagon-shop,, two-blacksmiths'-shops^ and two tailors'-shops.. In 



183 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

1840, Spring ville contained thirty- five inhabitants. It has 
since about doubled. There are two practicing physicians, 
residents of this town — D. Peters, and George H. Scoles. 

Oregon^ a town surveyed, February 17th, 1844, on sections 
thirty-five and thirty-six, in Big-spring township, by R. M. 
Shoemaker, is situated on the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail- 
road, ten and a half miles from the county seat of the county. 
Its proprietors wereErastus H. Cook and D. C. Henderson. 
Among the first settlers upon the site of this to,wri^-^*ere Eli 
Gehr, Adam Fetter, John Gantz, and Charles Foster. 

Oregon contains twenty-three dwellings, one large forward- 
ing house, one tavern, three stores, one saw-mill, propelled by 
steam, one cabinet-shop, one tailor-shop, one blacksmith 's-shop, 
two wagon-shops, and two shoe-shops. The post-office at this 
place is called " Foster's Mill." The first post-master was 
William White. The office is now held by John Carr, 
There is a practicing physician, a resident of this place — Sam- 
uel B. Owens. 

The population of this town is over one hundred, and is 
rapidly increasing. It is three and a half miles from McCutch- 
enville, and five miles from Carey, in Wyandot county. 

It has now been nearly thirteen years, since Big-spring was 
constituted a legal township, which was the last one organized 
of the fifteen townships of the county. In 1830 the whole 
number of inhabitants in the several townships, amounted to 
5,148. According to the census of 1840, the population had 
augmented to 18,128. At the present time it is probably 
about 22,000. 

Seneca, compared with the counties that surround it, is second 
to none in the fertility of its soil, number of streams, activity, 
intelligence and morality of its inhabitants, and in the increase 
of its population. 

The staple production of tliis county is wheat, large quan- 



HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 189 

titles of which are raised annually, and transported by means 
of the rail-road, out of the country. The average yield 
throughout the county, of this grain, may be estimated at 
about twenty bushels to the acre. 

Indian corn is grown in abundance, especially along the 
margin of the numerous streams, where the soil, consisting of 
a rich loam, is calculated in a high degree, for its growth. 
All of the other coarser grains, together with potatoes and 
other vegetables, are produced in large quantities. Apples, 
peaches, pears, and other fruit, thrive remarkably in all parts 
of the county. 

On the 15th of May, 1834, a severe frost destroyed all the 
fruit, and proved fatal also to the potatoe crop. Wheat was 
considerably injured, and flour at onetime, in Tiffin, was held 
at fourteen dollars per barrel. 

In most parts of the county, the soil is well adapted to the 
raising of grass, which, however, is sometimes injured by 
dry weather. In 1838, a year remarkable for the " great 
drouth," which prevailed in nearly the whole of northern Ohio, 
the clover crop was a total failure, and corn was likewise 
much injured. The channels of most of the smaller streams 
became dry, and many wells failed for the first time. 

The farmer, however, relies with a great degree of certainty 
upon good crops when his grain is well sown, being almost 
certain to reap an abundant harvest, as the reward for his toils. 

Seneca county produces some excellent horses, and many 
of the farmers have large stocks of cattle. Sheep, also, have 
been brought from the east, which produce the finest quality of 
wool. William Fleet and other enterprising farmers of Eden 
township, have been actively engaged in this undertaking; and 
we can but commend so laudable an enterprise as is the in- 
troduction of a superior breed of these valuable domestic ani- 
mals into the county. 



190 HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 

Besides those streams which have been described, there are 
numerous others in the county, some of which are deserving 
of notice. There are several east of the Sandusky, that fall 
into this river, below the mouth of Honey creek. The most 
considerable of these, are Rocky creek — taking its name from 
the rocky appearance of the bed of its stream — which falls into 
the river at Tiffin — Tyher creeAr, which empties into the San- 
dusky on section seventeen, in Clinton township — Spicefs 
creek — taking its name from the captive white, before spoken 
of, which falls into the river near the north-west corner of 
the "Spicer section," in Pleasant township — and Sugar creek ^ 
which empties into the Sandusky on section twenty-two, in the 
same township. 

" At the time of the organization of the county, money was 
ver}!^ scarce, as produce would neither sell for it, nor purchase 
goods. Whiskey was about the only commodity in market. 
Since then the county has progressed rapidly in every kind of 
improvement. Indeed, at present, the general sobriety of its 
inhabitants is truly remarkable, especially when compared with 
the state of society, in this particular, a few years since. To 
estimate the condition of morality and Christianity among its 
inhabitants, we have only to look at the multiplicity of churches, 
which are now to be found in every township. 

What then may not be anticipated from a county that has 
its whole surface covered with the richest soil 1 That has a 
climate, temperate and healthy, and streams rapid and numer- 
ous? With so much intelligence, activity, and zeal among 
its farmers, mechanics, and merchants, with a few 3''ears that 
have passed as a precedent, we may safely conclude that it 
will still continue to increase in population and wealth, ever 
ranking among the Jirst, with the counties that surround it, 
in all that appertains to greatness and importance. Such is 
the condition — and such are the prospects of Seneca county. 



APPENDIX. 



CONSTITUTION OF OHIO. 

Done in convention, begun and held at Chillicothe, on Monday, the 1st 
of November, A. D. 1802, and of the independence of the United 
States the 27th. 

We, the people of the eastern division of the territory of 
the United States north-west of the river Ohio, having the right 
of admission into the general government, as a member of the 
Union, consistent with the constitution of the United States, the 
ordinance of Congress of one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
.seven, and the law of Congress entitled, "An act to enable the 
people of the eastern division of the territory of the United 
States northwest of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and 
state government, and for the admission of such state into the 
Union, on an equal footing with the original states, and for other 
purposes;" in order to establish justice, promote the welfare, 
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our poster- 
ity, do ordain and establish the following constitution or form of 
government, and do mutually agree with each other to form our- 
selves into a free and independent state, by the name of The 
State of Ohio. 



192 CONSTITUTION OF 

ARTICLE I. 

§ 1. The legislative authority of this state shall be vested 
in a general assembly, which shall consist of a senate and 
house of representatives, both to be elected by the people. 

2. Within one year after the first meeting of the gen- 
eral assembly, and within every subsequent term of four years, 
an enumeration of all the white male inhabitants above twentj^- 
one years of age shall be made, in such manner as shall be 
directed by law. The number of representatives shall, at the 
several periods of making such enumeration, be fixed by the 
legislature, and apportioned among the several counties, accord- 
ing to the number of white male inhabitants of above twenty-one 
years 6f age in each ; and shall never be less than twenty rfour 
nor greater than thirty-six, until the number of white male in> 
habitants of above twenty-one years of age shall be twenty-two 
thousand ; and after that event, at such ratio that the whole 
number of representatives shall never be less than thirty-six, 
nor exceed seventy-two. 

3. The representatives shall be chosen annually, by the citi- 
zens of each county respectively, on the second Tuesday of 
October. 

4. No person shall be a representative who shall not have 
attained the age of twenty-five years, and be a citizen of the 
United States, and an inhabitant of this state ; shall also have 
resided within the limits of the county in which he shall be 
chosen, one year next preceding his election, unless he shall 
have been absent on the public business of the United States, 
or of this state, and shall have paid a state or county tax. 

5. The senators shall be chosen biennially, by qualified vo- 
ters for representatives ; and, on their being convened in con- 
sequence of the first election, they shall be divided by lot from 
their respective counties or districts, as near as can be, into two 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 193 

classes ; the seats of the senatoi*s of the first class shall be va- 
cated at the expiration of the first year, and of the second class 
at the expiration of the second year ; so that one- half thereof, . 
as near as possible, may be chosen annually forever thereafter. 

6. The number of senators shall, at the several periods of 
making the enumeration before mentioned, be fixed by the leg- 
islature, and apportioned among the several counties or dis- 
tricts to be established by law, according to the number of 
white male inhabitants of the age of twenty-one years in each, 
and shall never be less than one-third, nor more than one-half 
of the number of representatives. 

7. No person shall be a senator who has not arrived at the 
age of thirty years, and is a citizen of the United States ; 
shall have resided two years in the county or district immedi- 
ately preceding the election, unless he shall have been absent 
on the public business of the United States, or of this state, and 
shall, moreover, have paid a state or county tax. 

8. The senate and house of representatives, when assembled, 
shall each choose a speaker, and its other officers ; be judges of 
the qualifications and elections of its members, and sit upon its 
own adjournments ; two-thirds of each house shall constitute a 
quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from 
day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members. 

9. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and 
publish them. The yeas and nays of the members, on any 
question, shall, at the desire of any two of them, be entered 
on the journals. 

10. Any two members of either house shall have liberty to 
dissent from and protest against any act or resolution which 
they may think injurious to the public or any individual, and 
have the reasons of their dissent entered on the journals. 

11. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, 

punish its members for disorderly behavior ; and, with the con- 
17 



194 



CONSTITUTION OP 



currence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for 
the same cause ; and shall have all powers necessary for a 
branch of the legislature of a free and independent state. 

12. When vacancies shall happen in either house, the gov- 
ernor, or the person exercising the power of the governor, shall 
issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 

13. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases, except 
treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from ar- 
rest during the session of the general assembly, and in going 
to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate, 
in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

14. Each house may punish, by imprisonment, during their 
session, any person, not a member, who shall be guilty of dis- 
respect to the house, by any disorderly or contemptuous beha- 
vior in their presence ; provided such imprisonment shall not, 
at any one time, exceed twenty-four hours. 

15. The doors of each house, and of committees of the 
whole, shall be kept open, except in such cases as, in the opin- 
ion of the house, require secrecy. Neither house shall, with- 
out the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, 
nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall 
be sitting. 

16. Bills may originate in either house, but may be altered, 
amended, or rejected by the other. 

17. Every bill shall be read on three different days, in each 
house, -unless, in case of urgency, three fourths of the house 
where such bill is so depending, shall deem it expedient to dis- 
pense with this rule ; and every bill having passed both houses, 
shall be signed by the speakers of their respective houses. 

18. The style of the laws of this state shall be, " Be it en- 
acted by the general assembly of the state of Ohio.^^ 

19. The legislature of this state shall not allow the following 
officers of government greater annual salaries than as follows. 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 195 

until the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, to wit : 
the governor not more than one thousand dollars ; the judges of 
the supreme court not more than one thousand dollars each ; the 
presidents of the courts of common pleas not more than eight 
hundred dollars each ; the secretary of state not more than five 
hundred dollars ; the auditor of public accounts not more than 
seven hundred and fifty dollars ; the treasurer not more than 
four hundred and fifty dollars ; no member of the legislature 
shall receive more than two dollars per day during his 
attendance on the legislature, nor more for every twenty-five 
miles he shall travel in going to and returning fi'om the gener- 
al assembly. 

20. No senator or representative shall, during the time for 
which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil of- 
fice under this state which shall have been created, or the 
emoluments of which shall have been increased, during such 
time. 

21. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in 
consequence of appropriations made by law. 

22. An accurate statement of the receipts and expenditures 
of the public moneys, shall be attached to and published with 
the laws, annually. 

23. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of 
impeaching, but a majority of all the members must concur in 
an impeachment. All impeachments shall be tried by the sen- 
ate ; and when sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be on 
oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. 
No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two- 
thirds of all the senators. 

24. The governor and all other civil officers under this 
state, shall be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in 
office ; but judgment, in such 'case, shall not extend furthe 
than removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office 



196 CONSTITUTION OF 

of honor, profit, or trust, under this state. The party, whether 
convicted or acquitted, shall, nevertheless, be liable to indict- 
ment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law. 

25. The first session of the general assembly shall com- 
mence on the first Tuesday of March next ; and forever after, 
the general assembly shall meet on the first Monday in De- 
cember in every year, and at no other period unless directed 
by law or provided for by this constitution. 

26. No judge of any court of law or equity, secretary of state, 
attorney-general, register, clerk of any court of record, sher- 
if, or collector, member of either house of Congress, or per- 
son holding any office under the authority of the United States 
or any lucrative office under the authority of this state, (pro- 
vided that appointments in the militia, or justices of the 
peace, shall not be considei^d lucrative offices,) shall be eli- 
gible as a candidate for, or have a seat in, the general assembly, 

27. No person shall be appointed to any office, within any 
county, who shall not have been a citizen and inhabitant there- 
in, one year next before his appointment, if the county shall 
have been so long erected ; but if the county shall not 
have been so long erected, then within the limits of the 
county or counties, out of which it shall have been taken. 

28. No person who heretofore hath been, or hereafter may 
be, a collector or holder of public moneys, shall have a seat 
in either house of the general assembly, until such person shall 
have accounted for and paid into the treasury, all sums for 
which he may be accountable or liable. 

ARTICLE II. 

§1. The supreme executive power of this state shall be 
vested in a governor. 

2. The governor shall be chosen by the electors of the mem- 
bers of the general assembly, on the second Tuesday of Oc- 
tober, at the same places, and in the same manner that they 



THE STATE OF OHIO 197 

shall respectively vote for members thereof. The returns of 
every election for governor shall be sealed up and transmitted 
to the seat of government, by the returning officers, directed 
to the speaker of the senate, who shall open and publish them 
in the presence of a majority of the members of each house of 
the general assembly ; the person having the highest number 
of votes shall be governor ; but if two or more shall be equal 
and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen gover- 
nor by joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly. 
Contested elections for governor shall be determined by both 
houses of the general assembly, in such manner as shall be 
prescribed by law. 

3. The first governor shall hold his office until the first 
Monday of December, one thousand eight hundred and five, 
and until another governor shall be elected and qualified to of- 
fice ; and forever after, the governor shall hold his office for 
the term of two years, and until another governor shall be 
elected and qualified ; but he shall not be eligible more than 
six years in any term of eight years. He shall be at least 
thirty years of age, and have been a citizen of the United 
States twelve years, and an inhabitant of this state four years 
next preceding his election. 

4. He shall, from time to time, give to the general assembly 
information of the state of the government, and recommend to 
their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient. 

5. He shall have the power to grant reprieves and pardons, 
afler conviction, except in cases of impeachment, 

6. The governor shall, at stated times, receive for his ser- 
vices a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor di- 
minished during the term for which he shall have been elected. 

7. He may require information in writing, from the officers 
in the executive department, upon any subject relating to the 

17* 



198 CONSTITUTION OP 

duties of their respective offices, and shall take care that the 
laws be faithfully executed. 

8. When an officer, the right of whose appointment is, by this 
constitution, vested in the general assembly, shall during the 
recess die, or his office by any means become vacant, the gov- 
ernor shall have powei* to fill such vacancy, by granting a com- 
mission, which shall expire at the end of the next session of 
the legislature. 

9. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the gener- 
al assembly by proclamation, and shall state to them, when 
assembled, the purposes for which they shall have been con- 
vened. 

10. He shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy 
of this state, and of the militia, except when they shall be call- 
ed into the service of the United States. 

11. In cases of disagreement between the two houses, with 
respect to the time of adjournment, the governor shall have 
the power to adjourn the general assembly to such time as he 
thinks proper, provided it be not a period beyond the annual 
meeting of the legislature. 

12. In case of the death, impeachment, resignation, or 
removal of the governor from office, the speaker of the sen- 
ate shall exercise the office of governor until he be acquitted^ 
or another governor shall be duly qualified. In case of the im- 
peachment of the speaker of the senate, or his death, removal 
from office, resignation, or absence from the state, the speaker 
of the house of representatives shall succeed to the office, and 
exercise the duties thereof, until a governor shall be elected 
and qualified. 

13. No member of Congress, or person holding any office 
under the United States or this state, shall execute the office of 
governor. 

14. There shall be a seal of the state which shall be kept by 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 199 

the governor, and used by him officially, and shall be called the 
great seal of the state of Ohio. 

15. All grants and commissions shall be in the name and by 
the authority of the state of Ohio, sealed with the seal, signed 
by the governor, and countersigned by the secretary. 

16. A secretary of state shall be appointed by a joint ballot 
of the senate and house of representatives, who shall continue 
in office three years, if he shall so long behave himself well. 
He shall keep a fair register of all the official acts and pro- 
ceedings of the governor, and shall, when required, lay the 
same, and all papers, minutes, and vouchers, relative thereto, 
before either branch of the legislature ; and shall perform 
such other duties as shall be assigned him by law. 

ARTICLE III. 

"5> 1. The judicial power of this state, both as to matters of 
law and equity, shall be vest.ed in a supreme court, in courts of 
common plesa for each county, in justices of the peace, and 
in such other courts as the legislature may from time to time 

establish. 

2. The supreme court shall consist of three judges, any two 

of whom shall be a quorm. They shall have original and 
appellate jurisdiction, both in common law and chancery, in 
such cases as shall be directed by law : provided that nothing 
herein contained shall prevent the general assembly from add- 
ing another judge to the supreme court after the term of five 
years, in which case the judges may divide the state into two 
circuits, within which any two of the judges may hold a court. 

3. The several courts of common pleas shall consist of a 
president and associate judges. The state shall be divided by 
law into three circuits : there shall be appointed in each cir- 
cuit, a president of the courts, who, during his continuance 
in office, shall reside therein. There shall be appointed in 



200 CONSTITUTION OF 

each county not more than three, nor less than two associate 
judges, who during their continuance in office shall reside 
therein. The president and associate judges, in their respec- 
tive counties, any three of whom shall be a quorum, shall com- 
pose the court of common pleas, which court shall have com- 
mon law and chancery jurisdiction in all such cases as shall 
be directed by law ; provided that nothing herein contained 
shall be construed to prevent the legislature from increasing 
the number of circuits and presidents after the term of five 
years. 

4. The judges of the supreme court, and courts of common 
pleas shall have complete criminal jurisdiction in such cases 
and in such manner as may be pointed out by law. 

5. The court of common pleas of each county shall have ju- 
risdiction of all probate and testamentary matters, granting ad- 
ministration, the appointment of guardians, and such other 
cases as shall be prescribed by law. 

6. The judges of the court of common pleas shall, within 
their respective counties, have the same powers with the judges 
of the supreme court, to issue writs of certiorari to the justices 
of the peace, to cause their proceedings to be brought before 
them, and the like right and justice to be done. 

7. The judges of the supreme court shall, by virtue of their 
offices, be conservators of the peace throughout the state. 
The presidents of the courts of common pleas, shall, by virtue 
of their offices, be conservators of the peace in their respec- 
tive circuits ; and the judges of the court of common pleas 
shall, by virtue of their offices, be conservators of the peace 
in their respective counties. 

8. The judges of the supreme court, the presidents, and 
the associate judges of the courts of common pleas, shall be 
appointed by a joint ballot of both houses of the general assem- 
bly, and shall hold their offices for the term of seven years, if 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 201 

SO long they behave well. The judges of the supreme 
court, and the presidents of the courts of common pleas, shall, 
at stated times, receive for their services an adequate compen- 
sation, to be fixed by law, which shall not be diminished during 
their continuance in office ; but they shall receive no fees or 
perquisites of office, nor hold any other office of profit or trust 
under the authority of this state or the United States. 

9. Each court shall appoint its own clerk, for the term of 
seven years ; but no person shall be appointed clerk, except 
pro tempore, who shall not produce to the court appointing him 
a certificate from a majority of the judges of the supreme 
court, that they judge him to be well qualified to execute the 
duties of the office of clerk to any court of the same dignity 
with that for which he offers himself. They shall be remov- 
able for breach of good behavior, at any time, by the judges of 
the respective courts. 

10. The supreme court shall be held once a year in each 
county ; and the courts of common pleas shall be holden iR 
each county at such times and places as shall be prescribed by 
law. 

11. A competent number of justices of the peace shall be 
elected by the qualified electors in each township in the sever- 
al counties, and shall continue in office three years ; whose 
powers and duties shall from time to be regulated and defined 
by law. 

12. The stj^e of all process shall be : " The state of Ohio ;" 
all prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by 
the authority of the state of Ohio ; and all indictments snail 
conclude "against the peace and dignity of the same." 

ARTICLE IV. 

5 1. In all elections, all white male inhabitants, above the 
age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state one year 



202 CONSTITUTION OP 

next preceding /he election, and who have paid, or are char- 
ged with, a state or county tax, shall enjoy the right of an 
elector ; but no person shall be entitled to vote, except in the 
county or district in which he shall actually reside at the time 
ol" the election. 

2. All elections shall be by ballot. 

3. Electors shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or 
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their at- 
tendance at elections, and in going to and returning from the 
same. 

4. The legislature shall have full power to exclude from the 
privilege of electing, or being elected, any person convicted 
of bribery, perjury, or any other infamous crime. 

5. Nothing contained in this article shall be so construed as 
to prevent white male persons, above the age of twenty-One 
veal's, who are compelled to labor on the roads of their re- 
spective townships or- counties, and v/ho have resided one year 
in the state, from having the right of an elector. 

ARTICLE v. 

§ 1. Captains and subalterns in the militia shall be elected 
by those persons in their respective company districts subject 
to military duty. 

2. Majors shall be elected by the captains and subalterns of 
the battalion. 

3. Colonels shall be elected by the majors, captains, and sub- 
alterns of the regiment. 

4. Brigadiers-general shall be elected by the commissioned 
officers of their respective brigades. 

5. Majors-general and quarter-masters-general shall be ap- 
pointed by joint ballot of both houses of the legislature. 

6. The governor shall appoint the adjutant-general. The ma- 
jors-general shall appoint their aids, and other division staff offi- 



THE STATE OF OHIO. 203 

cers. The brigadiers-general shall appoint their brigade-majors, 
and other brigade staff officers. The commanding officers of 
regiments shall appoint their adjutants, quarter-masters, and 
other regimental staff officers ; and the captains and subalterns 
shall appoint their non-commissioned officers and musicians. 
7. The captains and subalterns of the artillery and caval- 
ry shall be elected by the persons enrolled in their respective 
corps, and the majors and colonels shall be appointed in such 
manner as shall be directed by law. The colonels shall ap- 
point their regimental staff, and the captains and subalterns 
their non-commissioned officers and musicians. 

ARTICLE VI. 

§ 1. There shall be elected in each county, one sberif and 
one coroner by the citizens thereof, who are qualified to vote 
for members of the assembly ; they shall be elected at the 
time and place of holding elections for members of as- 
sembly ; they shall continue in office two years, if they shall 
so long behave well, and until successors be chosen and duly 
qualified; provided, that no person shall be eligible as sberif 
for a longer term than four years in any term of six years. 

2. The state treasurer and auditor shall be triennially ap- 
pointed, by a joint ballot of both houses of the legislature. 

3. All town and township officers shall be chosen annually, 
by the inhabitants thereof duly qualified to vote for mem^ 
bers of assembly, at such time and place as may be directed 
by law. 

4. The appointment of all civil officers, not otherwise di- 
rected by this constitution, shall be made in such manner as 
may be directed by law. 



':04 CONSTITUTION OP 



ARTICLE VII. 



<5. 1. Every person who shall be chosen or appointed lo any 

ffice of trust or profit under the authority of the state shall, 

efore entering on the execution thereof, take an oath or affir- 

aation to support the constitution of the United States and of 

;;iis state, and also an oath of office. 

2. Any elector who shall receive any gift or reward for 
Ills vote, in meat, drink, money, or otherwise, shall suffer 
such punishment as the law shall direct ; and any person who 
r hall directly or indirectly give, promise, or bestow any such 
reward to be elected, shall thereby be rendered incapable for 
(WO years to serve in the office to which he was elected, and 
i )e subject to such other punishment as shall be directed by law. 

3. No new county shall be established by the general as- 
sembly, which shall reduce the county or counties, or either of 
ihem, from which it shall be taken, to less contents than four 
hundred square miles, nor shall any county be laid off of less 
contents. Every new county, as to the right of suffrage and 
representation shall be considered as a part of the county or 
counties from which it was taken, until entitled by numbers to 
the right of representation. 

4. Chillicothe shall be the seat of government until the year 
one thousand eight hundred and eight. No money shall be 
raised until the year one thousand eight hundred and nine, by 
the legislature of this state, for the purpose of erecting public 

"buildings for the accommodation of the legislature. 

5. That after the year one thousand eight hundred and six, 
whenever two-thirds of the general assembly shall think it ne- 
cessary to amend or change this constitution, they shall re- 
commend to the electors, at the next election for members to 
the general assembly, to vote for or against a convention ; and 
if it shall appear that a majority of the citizens of the state. 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 205 

voting for representatives, have voted for a convention, the 
general assembly shall, at their next session, call a convention, 
to consist of as many members as there be in the gener- 
al assembly, to be chosen in the same manner, at the same 
place, and by the same electors that choose the general assem- 
bly, who shall meet within three months after the said election, 
for the purpose of revising, amending, or changing the consti- 
tution. But no alteration of this constitution shall ever take 
place so as to introduce slavery, or involuntary servitude into 
this state. 

6. That the limits and boundaries of this state be ascer- 
tained, it is declared, that they are as hereafter mentioned — 
that is to say, bounded on the east by the Pennsylvania line ; 
on the south by the Ohio river, to the mouth of the Great Mi- 
ami river ; on the west by the line drawn due north from the 
mouth of the Great Miami aforesaid ; and on the north by an 
east and west line, drawn through the southerly extreme of 
Lake Michigan, running east after intersecting the due north 
line aforesaid, from the mouth of the Great Miami, until it shall 
intersect Lake Erie or the territorial line, and thence with the 
same through Lake Erie to the Pennsylvania line aforesaid: 
Provided, always, and it is hereby fully understood and de- 
clared by this convention, that if the southerly bend, or ex- 
treme of Lake Michigan should extend so far south, that a 
line drawn due east from it, should not intersect Lake 
Erie, or if it should intersect the said Lake Erie east of the 
mouth of the Miami river of the lake, then, and in that case, 
with the assent of the Congress of the United States, the nor- 
thern boundary of this state shall be established by, and extend- 
ed to a direct line running from the southern extremity of 
Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the Miami Bay, 
after intersecting the due north line from the mouth of tlie 
Great Miami river as aforesaid, thence north-east to the ter- 
18' 



206 CONSTITUTION OP 

ritorial line, and by the said territorial line to the Pennsylvania 
line. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

That the general, great, and essential principles of liberty 
and free government may be recognized, and forever unalter- 
ably established, we declare, 

§ 1. That all men are born equally free and independent, 
and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, 
among which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, 
acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing 
and obtaining happiness and safety ; and every free, republi- 
can government, being founded on their sole authority, and 
organized for the great purpose of protecting their rights and 
liberties, and securing their independence — to effect these ends 
they have at all times a complete power to alter, reform, or 
abolish their government whenever they may deem it neces- 
sary. 

2. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude 
in this state, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, 
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted ; nor shall 
any male person, arrived at the age of twenty-one years, or 
female person, arrived at the age of eighteen years, be held to 
serve any person as a servant under the pretense of indenture, 
or otherwise, unless such person shall enter into such inden- 
ture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on condition 
of a bona fide consideration received or to be received for their 
service, except as before excepted. Nor shall any indenture of 
any negro or mulatto hereafter made and executed, out of the 
state, or if made in the state, where the term of service ex- 
ceeds one year, be of the least validity, except those given in 
the case of apprenticeships. 

3. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to wor- 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 207 

ship Almighty God according to the dictates of conscience ; 
that no human authority can in any case whatever, control 
or interfere with the rights of conscience ; that no man 
shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of 
worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent ; 
and that no preference shall ever be given by law to any re- 
ligious society or mode of worship : and no religious test 
shall be required as a qualification to any office of trust or 
profit. But religion, morality, and knowledge, being essen- 
lially necessary to good government, and the happiness of man- 
kind, schools, and the means of instruction, shall forever be 
encouraged by legislative provision, not inconsistent with the 
rights of conscience. 

4. Private property ought, and shall ever be held inviolate, 
but always subservient to tlie public welfare, provided a com- 
pensation in money be made to the owner. 

5. That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers, and possessions, from unwarrantable searches and 
seizures ; and that general warrants, whereby an officer may 
be commanded to search suspected places, without probable evi- 
dence of the fact committed, or to seize any person or per- 
sons, not named, whose offenses are not particularly described, 
and without oath or affirmation, are dangerous to liberty, and 
shall not be granted. 

6. That the printing presses shall be open and free to every 
citizen vvho wishes to examine the proceedings of any branch 
of government, or the conduct of any public officer ; and no 
law shall ever restrain the right thereof Every citizen has an 
indisputable right to speak, write, or print, upon any subject, 
as he thinks proper, being liable for the abuse of that liberty. 
In prosecutions for any publication respecting the official con- 
duct of men in a public capacity, or where the matter publish- 
ed is proper for public information, the truth thereof may al- 



208 CONSTITUTION OP 

ways be given in evidence ; and in all indictments for libels, 
the jury shall have a right to determine the law and the facts 
under the direction of the court, as in other cases. 

7. That all courts shall be open, and every person, for any 
injury done him in his lands, goods, person, or reputation, 
shall have remedy by the due course of law ; and right and 
justice administered without denial or delay. 

8. That the right of trial by jury shall be inviolate. 

9. That no power of suspending the laws shall be exercised 
unless by the legislature. 

10. That no person arrested or confined in jail shall be treat- 
ed with unnecessary rigor, or be put to answer any criminal 
charge, but by presentment, indictment, or impeachment. 

11. That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a 
right to be heard by himself and his counsel, to demand the 
nature and cause of the accusation against him, and to have a 
copy thereof; to meet the witnesses face to face ; to have com- 
pulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor ; and in 
prosecutions by indictment or presentment, a speedy public 
trial, by an impartial jury of the county or district in which 
the offense shall have been committed, and shall not be com- 
pelled to give evidence against himself — nor shall he be twice 
put in jeopardy for the same offense. 

12. That all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties 
unless for capital offenses, where the proof is evident, or the 
presumption great, and the privilege of the writ of habeas 
corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebel- 
lion or invasion the public safety may require it. 

13. Excessive bail shall not be required, excessive fines 
shall not be imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments in- 
flicted. 

14. All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the 
offense. No wise legislature will affix the same punishments 



THE STATE OP OHIO. 209 

to the crime of theft, forgery, and the like, which they do to 
those of murder and treason. When the same undistinguish- 
ed severity is exerted against all offenses, the people are led 
to forget the real distinction in the crimes themselves, and to 
commit the most flagrant with as little compunction as they do 
the slightest offenses. For the same reasons, a multitude of 
sanguinary laws are both impolitic and unjust j the true de- 
sign of all punishments being to reform, not to exterminate 
mankind. 

15. The person of a debtor, where there is not strong pre- 
sumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison after de- 
livering up his estate for the benefit of his creditor or credit- 
ors, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. 

16. No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the va- 
lidity of contracts, shall ever be made ; and no conviction shall 
work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate. 

17. That no person shall be liable to be transported out of 
this state for any offense committed within the state. 

18. That a frequent recurrence to the fundamental princi- 
ples of civil government is absolutely necessary to preserve 
the blessings of liberty. 

19. That the people have a right to assemble together, in a 
peaceable manner, to consult for their common good, to in- 
struct their representatives, and to apply to the legislature fo? 
Fedress of greivances. 

20. That the people have a right to bear arms for the de- 
fense of themselves and the state ; and as standing armies in 
fime of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be 
kept up, and that the military shall be kept under strict subor- 
dination to the civil power. 

21. That no person in this state, except such as are employ- 
ed ii). th& army or navy of the United States, or militia in ao« 



18» 



210 CONSTITUTION OP 

tual service, shall be subject to corporeal punishment under 
the military law. 

22. That no soldier in time of peace be quartered in any 
house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, 
but in the manner prescribed by law. 

23. That the levying taxes by the poll is grievous and op- 
pressive ; therefore, the legislature shall never levy a poll tax 
for county or state purposes. 

24. That no hereditary emoluments, privileges, or honors 
shall ever be granted or conferred by this state. 

25. That no law shall be passed to prevent the poor in the 
several counties and townships within this state, from an equal 
participation in the schools, academies, colleges and universi- 
ties within this state, which are endowed, in whole or in part, 
from the revenue arising from donations made by the United 
States for the support of schools and colleges ; and the doors 
of the said schools, academies, and universities, shall be open 
for the reception of scholars, students, and teachers of every 
grade, without any distinction or preference whatever, contra- 
ry to the intent for which the said donations were made. 

26. That laws shall be passed by the legislature which shall 
secure to each and every denomination of religious societies, in 
each surveyed township, which now is, or may hereafter be. 
formed in the state, an equal participation, according to their 
number of adherents, of the profits arising from the land 
granted by Congress for the support of religion, agreeably to 
the ordinance or act of Congress, making the appropriation. 

27. That every association of persons, when regularly form- 
txi within this state, and having given themselves a name, may, 
on application to the legislature, be entitled to receive letters 
of incorporation, to enable them to hold estates, real and per- 
<»nal, for the support of their schools, academies, colleges, uni- 
versities, and for other purposes. 



THE STATE OF OHIO. 211 

29. To guard against the transgression of the high powers 
which we have delegated, we declare that all powers not herebjr 
delegated, remain with the people. 

SCHEDULE. 

^ 1. That no evils or inconveniences may arise from the 
change of a territorial government to a permanent state gov- 
ernment ; it is declared by this convention that all rights, 
suits, actions, prosecutions, claims, and contracts, both as it re- 
spects individuals and bodies corporate, shall continue as if no 
change had taken place in this government. 

2. All fines, penalties, and forfeitures, due and owing to the 
territory of the United States, north-west of the river Ohio, 
shall inure to the use of the state. All bonds executed to the 
governor or any other officer in his official capacity in the ter- 
ritory, shall pass over to the governor, or the other officers of 
the state, and their successors in office, for the use of the state, 
or by him or them to be respectively assigned over to the use 
of those concerned, as the case may be. 

3. The governor, secretary, and judges, and all other offi- 
cers under the territorial government shall continue in the ex- 
ercise of the duties of their respective departments, until the 
said officers are superseded under the authority of this con- 
stitution. 

4. All laws and parts of laws now in force in this territory, not 
inconsistent with this constitution, shall continue and re- 
main in full effect until repealed by the legislature, except so 
much of the act entitled "An act regulating the admission and 
practice of attorneys and counsellors at law ; and of the act 
made amendatory thereto, as relates to the term of time which 
the applicant shall have studied law, his residence within the 
territory, and the term of time which he shall have practiced as 



tit ©ONSTirunoK op 

an attorney-at-law, before he can be admitted to the degree 
of a counsellor-at-law. 

5. The governor of the state shall make use of his prirate 
seal until a state seal be procured. 

6. The president of the convention shall issue writs of elec- 
tion to the sherifs of the several counties, requiring them to 
proceed to the election of governor, members of the general 
assembly, sherifs, and coroners, at their respective election dis- 
tricts in each county, on the second Tuesday of January next, 
which elections shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by 
the existing election laws of this territory ; and the members 
of the general assembly then elected, shall continue to exer- 
cise the duties of their respective offices until the next annual 
or biennial election thereafter, as prescribed in this constitu- 
tion, and no lon2:er. 

7. Until the first enumeration shall be made, as directed in 
the second section of the first article of this constitution, the 
county of Hamilton shall be entitled to four senatoi-s and eight 
representatives ; the county of Clermont one senator and two 
representatives ; the county of Adams, one senator and three 
representatives; the county of Ross two senators and four 
representatives ; the county of Fairfield one senator and two 
representatives ; the county of Washington two senators and 
three repi-esentatives ; the county of Belmont one senator and 
two representatives ; the county of Jefterson two senators 
and four representatives ; and the county of Trumbull one 
senator and two representatives. 

Done in convention, atChillicothe, the 29th day of November, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
two, and of the independence of the United States of Amer- 
ica the twentv-sevent'h. 



THE STATE OF OHIO. 



213 



In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our 
names. 

EDWARD TIFFIN, President, 



Jos. DARLINGTOIf, 

Israel Donaldson, 
Tho. Kerker, 
James Caldwell, 
Elijah Woods, 
Philip Gatch, 
James Sargent, 
Henry Abrams, 
Em. Carpenter, 
John W. Browne, 
Charles W. Byrd, 
Fra. Dunlavy, 
Wm. Goforth, 
John Kitchell, 
Jer. Morrow, 
John Paul, 
John M'Intire, 



John Reilly, 
John Smith, 
John Wilson, 
Rudolph Bear, 
Geo. Humphrey, 
John Milligan, 
Nath. Updegraff, 
Baz. Wells, 
Mich. Baldwin, 
James Grubb, 
Nath. Massie, 
t. worthington, 
David Abbott, 
Sam. Huntington, 
Eph. Cutler, 
Ben. Ives Gilman, 
RuFus Putnam, 



Attest : THO. SCOTT, Secretary. 



OP 

THE UNITED STATES 



We, the people of the United States, in order to form a 
more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquil- 
lity, provide for the common defense, promote the general wel- 
fare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our 
posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the 
United States op Ameeica. 

ARTICLE 1. 

^ 1. All legislative powers herein granted, shall be vested 
in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a 
senate and house of representatives. 

2. The house of representatives shall be composed of mem- 
bers chosen every second year, by the people of the several 
states ; and the electors in each state shall have the qualifica- 
tions requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the 
state legislature. 

No person shall be a representative who shall not have at- 
tained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years 
a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elec* 
ted, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be choseE. 



216 CONSTITUTION OP 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among 
the several states, which may be included within this Union, 
according to their respective numbers ; which shall be deter- 
mined by adding to the whole number ot' free persons, inclu- 
ding those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding 
Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. 

The actual enumeration shall be made within three years 
after the first meeting of the Congress of the United 
States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such 
manner as they shall by law direct. The number of repre- 
sentatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but^ 
each state shall have at least one representative : and until 
such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire 
shall be entitled to choose three ; Massachusetts eight ; Rhode 
Island and Providence Plantations one ; Connecticut five ; 
New York six ; New Jersey four ; Pennsylvania eight ; Del- 
aware one ; Maryland six ; Virginia ten ; North Carolina 
five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, 
the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election 
to fill such vacancies. 

The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and 
other ofiicers ; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

<^ 3. The senate of the United States shall be composed of 
two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature there- 
of, for six years ; and each senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled, in consequence 
of the first election, they shall be divided, as equally as may 
be,. into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first 
class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year ; of 
the second class at the expiration of the fourth year ; and of 
the third class at the expiration of the sixth year ; so that one 
third may be chosen every second year ; and if vacancies hap- 



THE UNITED STATES. 217 

pen, by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the leg- 
islature of any state, the executive thereof may make tempo- 
rary appointments, until the next meeting of the legislature, 
which shall then fill such vacancies. 

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to 
the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the 
United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabit- 
ant of that state for which he shall be chosen. 

The vice president of the United States shall be president 
of the senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally di- 
vided. 

The senate shall choose their other officers, and also a pres- 
ident pro tempore, in the absence of the vice president, or 
when he shall exercise the office of president of the United 
States. 

The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeach- 
ments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath 
or affirmation. When the president of the United States is 
tried, the chief justice shall preside ; and no person shall be 
convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the mem- 
bers presents 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further 
than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and en- 
joy any office of honor, trust or profit, under the United 
States ; but the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable 
and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment ac- 
cording to law. 

4. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for 

senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state 

by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time 

by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the places 

of choosing senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year ; 
19 



218 CONSTITUTION OP 

and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, 
unless they shall by law appoint a different day. 

5. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns, 
and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each 
shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller num- 
ber may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to 
compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and 
under such penalties as each house may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, pun- 
ish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concur- 
rence of two-thirds, expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from 
time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in 
their judgment require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of 
the members of either house, on any question, shall, at the de- 
sire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. . 
Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without 
the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor 
t© any other place than that in which the two houses shall be 
sitting. 

6. The senators and representatives shall receive a compen- 
sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of 
the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases except 
treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest 
during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, 
and in going to or returning from the same ; and for any speech 
or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any 
other place. 

No senator or representative shall, during the time for which 
he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the au- 
thority of the United States, which shall have been created, or 
the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during 
such time, and no person holding any office under the United 



THE UNITED STATES. 219 

States shall be a member of either house during his continu- 
ance in office. 

7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of 
representatives ; but the senate may propose, or concur with 
amendments, as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the house of representa- 
tives and the senate, shall, before it become a law, be present- 
ed to the president of the United States ; if he approve, he 
shall sign it, but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, 
to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter 
the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to recon- 
sider it. If, after such reconsideration, two thirds of that 
house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with 
the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise 
be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, 
it shall become a law. But in all such cases, the votes of both 
houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names 
of the persons voting for and against the bill, shall be entered 
on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall 
not be returned by the president within ten days, (Sundays ex- 
cepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same 
shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the 
Congress by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which 
case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence 
of the senate and house of representatives may be necessary, 
(except on a question of adjournment,) shall be presented to 
the president of the United States ; and before the same shall 
take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved 
by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of the senate and 
house of representatives, according to the rules and limitations 
prescribed in the case of a bill. 

8. The Congress shall have power .*: 



220 CONSTITUTION OF 

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises ; to 
payihe debts and provide for the common defense and general 
welfare of the United States ; but all duties, imposts and exci- 
ses shall be uniform throughout the United States: 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States: 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the 
several states and with the Indian tribes: 

To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform 
laws on the subject of bankruptcies, throughout the United 
States: 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign 
coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures : 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securi- 
ties and current coin of the United States: 

To establish post-offices and post-roads : 

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by secu- 
ring, for limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive 
right to their respective writings and discoveries : 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court : 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on 
the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations: 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and 
make rules concerning captures on land and water : 

To raise and support armies; but no appropriation of money 
to that use shall be for a longer term than two years: 

To provide and maintain a navy : 

To make rules for the government and regulation of the 
land and naval forces: 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws 
of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions: 

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the 
militia, and for governing such part of them as may be em- 
ployed, in the service of the United States, reserving to the 



THE UNITED STATES. 221 

States respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the au- 
thority of training the militia according to the discipline pre- 
scribed by Congress. 

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, 
over such district, (not exceeding ten miles square,) as may 
by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Con- 
gress, become the seat of government of the United States, and 
to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the 
consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall 
be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards 
and other needful buildings — and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for 
carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other 
powers vested by this constitution in the government of the 
United States, or in any department or officer thereof. 

9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of 
the states now existing, shall think proper to admit, shall not 
be prohibited by the Congress, prior to the year one thousand 
eight hundred and eight ; but a tax or duty may be imposed 
on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be sus- 
pended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the pub- 
lic safety may require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation, or other direct tax, shall be laid, unless in 
proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed 
to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall.be laid on articles exported from any 
state. No preference shall be given by any regulation of com- 
merce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of ano- 
ther; nor shall vessels bound to, or from one state, be obliged 
to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in con- 
19* 



223 CONSTITUTION OF 

sequence of appropriations made by law ; and a regular state- 
ment and account of the receipts and expenditures of all pub- 
lic money shall be published from time to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States ; 
and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, 
shall, without the consent of Congress, accept of any present, 
emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any 
king, prince, or foreign state. 

10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confed- 
eration ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; 
emit bills of credit ; make any thing but gold and silver coin a 
tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post 
facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant 
any title of nobility. 

No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any 
imposts or duties on imports or exports except what may be ab- 
solutely necessary for executing its inspection laws ; and the 
net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on im- 
ports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the 
United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revis- 
ion and control of the Congress. No state shall, without the 
consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops or 
ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement 
or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or en- 
gage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent 
danger as will not admit of delay. 

ARTICLE II. 

^^ 1. The executive power shall be vested in a president of 
the United States of America. He shall hold his office du- 
ring the term of four years ; and together with the vice presi- 
dent, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : 

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature 



i'HE UNITED STATES. 223 

thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole 
number of senators and representatives to which the state 
may be entitled in the Congress : but no senator or representa- 
tative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the 
United States shall be appointed an elector. 

[ The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote 
by ballot for two persons of whom one at least shall not be an 
inhabitant of the same state with themselves: and they shall 
make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of 
votes for each ; which list they shall sign and certify, and 
transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government of the United 
States, directed to the president of the senate. The pi-esident 
of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and house of 
representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall 
then be counted. The person having the greatest number of 
votes shall be the president, if such number be a majority of 
the whole number of electors appointed; and if there be 
more than one who have such majority, and have an equal 
number of votes, then the house of representatives shall im- 
mediately choose by ballot, one of them for president ; and if 
no person nave a majority, then from the five highest on the 
list, the said house shall, in like manner, choose the president : 
but in choosing the president, the votes shall be taken by 
states, the representation from each state having one vote ; a 
quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members 
from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states 
shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice 
of the president, the person having the greatest number of 
votes of the electors shall be the vice president. But if there 
should remain two or more who have equal votes, the senate 
shall choose from them, by ballot, the vice president.] 

[ This clause altogether altered and supplied hy the Xllth 
amendment.'] 



224 CONSTITUTION OF 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the 
electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes ; 
which day shall be the same throughout the United States. ' 

No person except a natural born citizen or a citizen of the 
United States at the time of the adoption of this constiution, 
shall be eligible to the office of president; neither shall any 
person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained 
to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resi- 
dent within the United States. 

Incase of the removal of the president from office, or of his 
death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and du- 
ties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the vice presi- 
dent, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of re- 
moval, death, resignation or inability, both of the president 
and vice president, declaring what officer shall then act as pres- 
ident, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disabili- 
ty be removed, or a president shall be elected. 

The president shall, at stated times^ receive for his services 
a compensation, v/hich shall neither be increased nor diminish- 
ed during the period for which he shall have been elected ; and 
he shall not receive, within that period, any other emolument 
from the United States, or any pf them. 

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take 
the following oath or affirmation : 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully exe- 
cute the office of president of the United States, and will, to the 
best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitu- 
tion of the United States." 

2. The president shall be commander-in-chief of the army 
and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the sev- 
eral states, when called into the actual service of the United 
States : he may require the opinion in writing, of the princi- 



THE UNITED STATES. 225 

pal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any sub- 
ject relating to the duties of their respective offices ; and he 
shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses 
against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of 
the senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the sena- 
tors present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with 
the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint ambassadors, 
other public ministers and consuls, judges of the supreme court, 
and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments 
are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be es- 
tablished by law. But the Congress may by law vest the ap- 
pointment of such inferior officers as they think proper, in the 
president alone, or in the courts of law or the heads of depart- 
ments. 

The president shall have power to fill up all vacancies that 
may happen during the recess of the senate by granting com- 
missions, which shall expire at the end of their next session. 

3. He shall from time to time, give to the Congress infor- 
mation of the state of the Union, and recommend to their con- 
sideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expe- 
dient: he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both 
houses, or either of them; and in case of disagreement be- 
tween them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper : he shall 
receive ambassadors and other public officers : he shall take 
care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commis- 
sion all the officers of 'the United States. 

4. The president, vice president, and all civil officers of the 
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment 
for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes 
and misdemeanors. 



2261 CONSTITUTION OF 



ARTICLE III. 



^ 1. The judicial power of the United States shall be vest- 
ed in one supreme com't^ and in such inferior courts as the 
Congress may, from time to time ordain and establish. The 
judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their 
offices during good behavior, and shall at stated times, receive 
for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished 
during their continuance in office. 

2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and 
equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of the United 
States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their 
authority ; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public minis- 
ters and consuls ; to all cases of admiralty and maritime juris- 
diction ; to controversies to which the United States shall be a 
party ; to controversies between two or more states ; be- 
tween a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens 
of the same state, claiming lands under grants of different 
states ; and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign 
states, citizens or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and 
consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the supreme 
court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases be- 
fore mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdic- 
tion, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under 
such regulations as the Congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, 
shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where 
the said crimes shall have been committed ; but when not com- 
mitted within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places 
as the Congress may by law have directed. 

3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in 
levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giv- 



THE UNITED STATES. ^"^T 

ing them aid and comfort. No person slmll be convicted of 
treason, unless on the testimony of two witne-sses to the same 
overt act, or on confession in open court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment 
of treason ; but no attainder of treason shall work corruption 
of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person at- 
tainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

§ 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the 
public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other 
state. And the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the 
manner in which such acts records, and proceedings, shall be 
proved, and the effect thereof. 

2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privi- 
leges and immunities of citizens in the several states. 

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or oth- 
er crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another 
state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state 
from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the 
state having jurisdiction of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one state under the 
laws thereof, escaping into another, shall in consequence of 
any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service 
or labor ; but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to 
whom such service or labor may be due. 

3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this 
Union ; but no state shall be formed or erected within the ju- 
risdiction of any other state ; nor any state be formed by the 
junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the 
consent of the legislatures of the states concerned, as well as 
of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all 



228 CONSTITUTION OP 

needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other 
property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this 
constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of 
the United States, or of any particular state. 

4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this 
Union, a republican form of government, and shall protect 
each of them against invasion ; and on appplication of the leg- 
islature or of the executive, (when the legislature cannot be 
convened,) against domestic violence. 

ARTICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem 
it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution ; or 
on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the sev- 
eral states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, 
which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, 
as a part of this constitution, v/hen ratified by the legislatures 
of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three- 
fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification 
may be proposed by the Congress; provided, that no amend- 
ment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight 
hundred and eight, shall in any manner affect the first and 
fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article ; and that 
no state without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suf- 
frage in the senate. 

ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted, and engagements entered into, before 
the adoption of this constitution, shall be as valid against the 
United States under this constitution, as under the confedera- 
tion. 

This constitution, and the laws of the United States, which 
shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or 



THE UNITED STATES. 229 

which shall be made under the authority of the United States, 
shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every 
state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or 
^aws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The senators and representatives befo]*e mentioned, and the 
members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and 
judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several 
states, shall be bound by an oath or affirmation, to support this 
constitution ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a 
qualification to any office or public trust under the United 
States. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The ratification of the conventions of nine states shallbe 
sufficient for the establishment of this constitution between the 
states so ratifying the same. 

Done in convention, by the unanimous consent of the states 
|)resent, the seventeenth dayof September, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of 
the Independence of the United States of America, the 
twelfth. In witness whereof, we have subscribed our names. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 
President^ and delegate from Virginia. 
New Hampshire — John Langdon, Nicholas Oilman. 
Massachusetts — Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King. 
Connecticut— 'Wxn. Samufel Johnson, Roger Sherman. 
New York — Alexander Hamilton. 

New Jerse?/— William Livingston, William Patterson, Da- 
vid Brearly, Jonathan Dayton. 

Pennsylvania — Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Thom- 
as Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Thomas Mifflin, George Cly- 
mer, Jared Ingersoll, Governeur Morris. 

20 



230 CONSTITUTION OF 

Delaware- — George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., JohnDick- 
inson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom. 

Maryland — James McHenry, Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, 
Daniel Carroll. 

Virginia — John Blair, James Madison, Jr. 

North Carolina — William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, 
Hugh Williamson. 

South Carolina — John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Pierce 
Butler, Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney, 

Georgia — William Few, Abraham Baldwin. 

Attest, WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 

AMENDMENTS. 

ARTICLE I. 

First Congress, first session, March 4, 1789. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment 
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridg- 
ing the freedom of speech, or the press ; or the right of the 
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the goverment 
for a redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of 
a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, 
shall not be infringed. 

ARTICLE III, 

No soldier shall in time of peace, be quartered in any house 
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in 
a manner to be prescribed by law. 



THE UNITED STATES. 231 



ARTICLE IV. 



The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, 
shall not be violated ; and no warrants shall issue, but upon pro- 
bable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly- 
describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things 
to be seized. 

ARTICLE V. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise 
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a 
grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, 
or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war or 
public danger ; nor shall any person be subject for the same 
offense, to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall 
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against 
himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without 
due process of law : nor shall private property be taken for 
public use, without just compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the 
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the 
state and district wherein the crime shall have been commit- 
ted ; which disirict shall have been previously ascertained by 
law ; and to be informed of the nature and cause of the ac- 
cusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him ; to 
have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, 
and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 



232 CONSTITUTION OF 



ARTICLE VII. 



In suits at common law, where the value in controversy 
shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be 
preserved ; and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re- 
examined in any court of the United States than according 
to the rules of common law. 



ARTICLE VIII. 



Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. 

The enumeration in the constitution of certain rights, shall 
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the 
people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the con- 
stitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the 
states respectively, or to the people. 

ARTICLE XI. 

Third Congress, second session, December 2, 1793. 
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed 
to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecu- 
ted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, 
or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. 

ARTICLE XII. 

Eighth Congress, first session, October 17, 1803. 
The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote, 
by ballot, for president and vice president, one of whom, at 



THE UNITED STATES. 233 

least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; 
they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as presi- 
dent, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as vice presi- 
dent ; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for 
as president, and of all pei*sons voted for as vice president, and 
of the number of votes for each ; which lists they shall sign 
and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of government of 
the United States, directed to the president of the senate ; the 
president of the senate, shall, in the presence of the senate 
and house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the 
votes shall then be counted ; the person having the greatest 
number of votes for president shall be the president, if such num- 
ber be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed : 
and if no person have such majority, then from the persons 
having the highest number, not exceeding three, on the list 
of those voted for as president, the house of representatives 
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the president ; but in 
choosing the president, the votes shall be taken by states, the 
representation from each state having one vote ; a quorum for 
this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- 
thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be 
necessary to a choice ; and if the house of representatives 
shall not choose a president, whenever the right of choice 
shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next 
following, then the vice president shall act as president, as in 
the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the 
president. 

The person having the greatest number of votes as vice 
president, shall be the vice president, if such number be a ma- 
jority of the whole number of electors appointed ; and if no 
person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers 
on the list, the senate shall choose the vice president ; a quo- 

20* 



234 CONSTITUTION. 

rum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole 
number of senators ; and a majority of the whole number shall 
be necessary to a choice. 

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of 
president, shall be eligible to that of vice president of the 
the United States. 



TABULAR YIE¥S, &C. 



Names of all county officers from the organization of the 
county down to the present year, with the time of the election 
of each. 

[Note. Those officers having the letter c, annexed were 
appointed by the county commissioners. Those having the 
letters c p, were appointed by the court of common pleas, pur- 
suant to the laws then in force.] 





SHERIFS. 






YEAR. 




YEAR 


NAMES. 


ELECTED. 


NAMES, 


ELECTED. 


Agreen Ingraham, 


1824 


Levi Keller, 


1838 


(( (( 


1826 


(( u 


1840 


William Patterson, 


1828 


Uriah P. Coonrod, 


1842 


David Bishop^ 


1830 


(C « 


1844 


(( u 


1832 


Eden Lease, 


1846 


Joel Stone, 


1834 






(( ((■ 


1836 








CORONERS. 




Christopher Stone, 


1824 


George Flack, 


1832 


(C (( 


1826 


Eli Norris, 


1834 


William Toll, 


1828 


Levi Keller, 


1836 


(( (( 


1830 


Henry McCartney, 


183S 



236 



TABULAR VIEWS. 



NAMES. 

Daniel Brown, 
George H. Show. 



David Smith, 



David E. Owens, 

U (i 



Mihon McNeal, c 

Agreen Ingraham, c 
Jacob Plane, c 

a a 



YEAR YEAR 

ELECTED. NAMES. ELECTED. 

1840 Gerge H. Show, 1844 

1842 Samuel Herrin, 1846 

AUDITORS. 

1824 Levi Davis, 1836 

1826 " " 1838 

1828 Gabriel J. Keen, 1840 

1830 " " 1842 

1832 Frederick W. Green, 1844 

1834 " " 1846 

TREASURERS. 

1824 John Gooden, 

1825 '<■ " 

1826 Joshua Seney, 

1827 '• '' 

1828 Richard Williams, 

1829 " " 
1831 George Knupp, 
1833 



John Gooden, 

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. 

Rodolphus Dickinson, c p 1824 John J. Steiner, 

Abel Rawson, c p 1826 Joel W. Wilson, 

Sidney Smith, 1833 " « 

Selah Chapin, Jr. 1835 William Lang, 

John J. Steiner, 1837 " " 



1835 
1837 
1839 
1841 

1843 
1845 

1847 



1839 
1840 
1842 
1844 
1846 



TABULAR VIEWS. 



237 



COxMMISSIONERS. 





YEAR 




YEAR 


NAMES. ELECTED. 


NAMES. 


ELECTED. 


Thomas Boyd, 


1824 


Lorenzo Abbott, 


1834 


Benjamin Whitmore, 


1824 


Benjamin Whitmore 


), 1835 


Doctor Dunn, 


1824 


John Seitz, 


1836 


Thomas Boyd, 


1825 


Lorenzo Abbott, 


1837 


Timothy P. Roberts, 


1826 


John Terry, 


1838 


James Gorden, 


1826 


Andrew More, 


1839 


Case Brown, 


1827 


George Stoner, 


1840 


James Gorden, 


1828 


John Terry, 


1841 


Timothy P. Roberts, 


1829 


Joseph McClelland, 


1842 


Case Brown, 


1830 


Morris P. Skinner 


1843 


David Risdon, 


1831 


Jacob Decker, 


1844 


John Keller, 


1832 


Joseph McClelland, 


1845 


John Crum, 1 year, 


1833 


Morris P. Skinner, 


1846 


Marcus Y. Graff, 2 yr 


■s. 1833 


Jacob Decker, 


1847 


John Seitz, 3 years. 


1833 






COUNTY SURVEYORS. 




David Risdon, 


1824 


Jonas Hershberger, 


1839 


George W. Gist, 


1836 


Thomas Hemming, 


1842 


James Durbin, 


1837 


(( u 


1845 



RECORDERS. 



Neal McGaffey, c p 
Abel Rawson, c p 

William H. Kessler, 



1824 William H. Kessler, 1842 

1828 " " 1845 

1836 Robert M. C. Martin, 1846 
1839 



238 


TABULAE 


. VIEWS. 






ASSESSORS. 






YEAR 




YEAR 


NAMES. 


ELECTED. 


NAMES. 


ELECTED. 


David Risdon, 


1827 


John W. Eastman, 


1836 


<; a 


1829 


Robert Holiey, 


1837 


John Wright, 


1831 


Samuel S. Martin, 


1838 


Reuben Williams, 


1833 


Benjamin Carpentei 


•, 1840 


John Welch, 


1835 






ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 




William Cornell, 


1824 


Henry C. Brish, 


1838 


Jacques Hulbert, 


1824 


Andrew Lugenbill, 


1838 


Mathew Clark, 


1824 


Lowell Robinson, 


1838 


Agreen Ingraham, 


1831 


Andrew Lugenbill, 


1845 


Benjamin Pittenger, 


1831 


William Toll, 


1845 


Selden Graves, 


1831 


Henry Ebert, 


1845 



Note. Associate judges are appointed by the legislature. 
CLERKS OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. 



Charles F. Dresbach, 
Henry Ebert, 



1840 

1847 



Neal McGafFey, 1824 

Joseph Howard, 1830 

Luther A. Hall, 1834 

(At the October term of this year, Samuel Stoner was ap- 
pointed clerk pro tern. ) 

Note. Clerks of the court of common pleas are appoint- 
by the judges. 



AI ACT, 

Incorporating the Seneca county Academy, passed March 4th, 1836. 

§ 1. Beit enacted ly the general assemhly of the state of Ohio, 
That Samuel Waggoner, Sidney Smith, Joshua Maynard, 
Chancey Rundell, Timothy P. Roberts, Sela Chapin, Jun., and 
Calvin Bradley, of the county of Seneca, together with such 
persons as may be associated with them for the purpose of es- 
tablishing an academy in the town of Republic, be and they 
are hereby created a body politic and corporate, with perpetual 
succession, by the name of the " Seneca County Academy," 
and by that name shall be competent to contract and be con- 
tracted with, to sue, and be sued, answer, and be answered 
unto, in all courts of law and equity ; and to acquire, possess 
and enjoy, and to sell, convey, and dispose of property both 
personal and real ; and shall possess all the powers usually in- 
cident to such corporations. Provided, that the annual income 
of such property shall not exceed two thousand dollars. 

2. That any three of the above named persons shall have 
power to call a meeting by giving ten days previous notice 
thereof, by advertisement set up at three of the most public 
places in the township of Scipio, aforesaid. 

3. That said corporation shall have power to form a consti- 
tution and adopt by-laws for its government, to prescribe the 
number and title of its officers and define their powers and du- 
ties, to prescribe the manner in which members may be admit- 



240 SENECA COUNTY ACADEMY. 

ted and dismissed, and dther powers necessary for the efficient 
management of its corporate concerns. 

4. That any future legislature may modify or repeal this act. 

WILLIAM MEDILL, 
Spealcer of the House of Representatives* 
ELIJAH VANCE, 

Speaker of the Senate. 



TABULAR VIEWS. 



241 



The following table contains the names of each township in 

the county ; also, the names of the gentlemen by whom 

tliey were surveyed into sections and quarter-sections, and 
tlie time of the survey of each 



TOWNSHIPS. 

Adams, 

Big Spring, 

Bloom, 

Clinton, 

Eden, 

Hopewell, 

Jackson, 

Loudon, 

Pleasant, 

Reed, 
Scipio, 

Thompson, 
Venice, 
Seneca, 
Liberty, 



SURVEYORS. YEAR SUIIV D. 

Sylvanus Bourne, 1820 
C. W. Christmas,( Indian Grant,) 18S2 

J. Glasgow, 1820 
C. W. Christmas, (Indian Grant,) 1832 

Sylvanus Bourne, 1820 

J. T. Worthington, 1820 

J. T. Worthington, 1820 

J, T. Worthington, 1820 

J. Glasgow, 1820 

J. Glasgow, 1820 

J. T. Worthington, 1820 

C. W. Christmas, (Indian Grant,) 1832 

Price J. Kellogg, 1820 

Sjdvanus Bourne, 1820 

C. W. Christmas, (Indian Grant,) 1832 

Price J. Kellogg, 1821 

Price J. Kellogg, 1820 

J. T. Worthington, 1820 

J. T. Worthington. 1820 



Tabular view of the several towns in the county — the town- 
ships in which they are located — names of surveyors of each 
and time of the survey. 



TOWNS. 

Oakleys 
Tiffin, 
Fort Ball, 
21 



TOWNSHIPS. 

Clinton, 
Clinton, 
Clinton, 



SURVEYORS. 

Joseph Vance, 
James Hedges, 
David Risdon, 



YEAR SURV'D. 

1819 
1B21 

1824 



242 


TABULAR VIEWS* 




TOWNS. TOWNSHIPS. 


SURVEYORS. YEAR SURV^D 


Melmore, 


Eden, 


James Kil bourne. 


1824 


Caroline, 


Venice, 


James Kilbourne, 


1828 


Rome, 


Loudon, 


David Risdon, 


1832 


Kisdon, 


Loudon, 


David Risdon, 


1832 


Middleburg, 


Liberty, 


David Risdon, 


1832 


Attica, 


Venice, 


David Risdon, 


1833 


Sulphur Spring, Adams, 


David Risdon, 


1833 


Springville, 


Big Spring, 


David Risdon, 


1834 


Republic, 


Scipio, 


R. M. Shoemaker, 


1834 


Fort Seneca, 


Pleasant, 


David Risdon, 


183G 


Hopewell, 


Hopewell, 


James Durbin, 


1836 


New Fort Ball, 


Clinton, 


James Durbin, 


1837 


Bloomville, 


Bloom, 


Julius Treat, 


1837 


Bascom, 


Hopewell, 


George W. Gist, 


1837 


Bettsville, 


Liberty, 


David Risdon, 


1838 


Elizabethtown, 


Bloom, 


James Durbin, 


1838 


Lodi, 


Reed, 


James Durbin, 


1838 


Green Spring, 


Adams, 


David Reeves, 


1839 






David Risdon, 


t( 


Thompsontown, Thompson, 


Jonas Hersberger, 


1840 


Lewisville, 


Thompson, 


Jonas Hershberger, 


1841 


Rehoboth, 


Jackson, 


Thomas Heming, 


1844 


Oregon, 


Big Spring, 


R. M. Shoemaker, 


1844 


Berwick, 


Seneca, 


Thomas Heming, 


1845 


Adamsville^ 


Adams, 


Thomas Heming, 


1846 



TABULAR VIEWS* 



243 



o 



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fto CD 

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o 
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05 

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OD 

00 



o 

CO 



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00 



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10 ♦ 



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00 



QD 



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03 CO 



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CO to 05 i> 
CO O Zj ^ 

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45- O o • 



lO 05 



CO 

o 


10 

00 


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CO 

lO 

05 



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k-j o CO to »^ H^ 

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to 



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244 



TABULAR VIEWS. 



Appraisement and purchase price of the school section (16) in 
each township of the county. 



TOWNSHIPS. 


APPRAISEMENT. 


PURCHASE PRICE. 


Adams, 


#3,200 


$4,443 


Big Spring, 


(not sold.) 




Bloom, 


3,120 


3,691 


Clinton, 


(no records.) 




Eden, 


1,254 


1,254 


Hopewell, 


(part unsold.) 




.Jackson. 


4,950 


5,229 


Liberty, 


(unsold.) 




Loudon, 


C( 




Scipio, 


(no records.) 




Seneca, 


800 


800 


Pleasant, 


1,Q42 


1,042 


Reedj 


2,230 


2,943 


Thompson, 


9,300 


11,090 


Venice, 


2,780 


2,783 



The following is a tabular view of the whole wliole and 
fractional school districts in each township, together with the 
number of j'-outh entitled to draw public money in each, for 
the vear 1847. 





WHOLE 


FRACTIONAL 


NO. OF 


rowxsHips. 


DISTRICTS. 


DISTRICTS. 


YOUTH. 


Adams, 


7 


4 


677 


Bloom, 


9 


2 


749 


Clinton, 


11 


1 


1,296 


Eden, 


10 


1 


663 


Hopewell, 


8 


1 


520 


Liberty, 


9 





631 


Loudon, 


9 


2 


650 



TABULAR VIEWS. 245 





WHOLE 


FRACTIONAL 


NO. OF 


TOWNSHIPS. 


DISTRICTS. 


DISTRICTS. 


YOUTH. 


Pleasant, 


8 





604 


Reed, 


11 


4 


676 


Seneca, 


9 


1 


718 


Scipio, 


11 


3 


953 


Thompson, 


9 


3 


700 


Venice, 


8 


4 


686 


Big Spring, 


6 





645 


Jackson, 


8 


X 


406 


21* 









MMES OF THE SUBSCRIBERS 



TO THIS WORK. 



NAMES. RESIDENCE. 

E. Dresbach, Tiffin, 

T. P. Graves, do 
W. H. Gibson, 3 copies, do 

Fred'k Singer, do 

William Lang, do 

Sidney Sea, 2 copies, do 

Warren P. Noble 2 do 

Robert M. C. Martin, do 

H. Gross, do 

Samuel Stoner, do 
J. W. Wilson, 2 copies, do 

Richard Williams, 2 do 

Joshua Seney, do 

J. P. Pillars, do 

George E. Seney, do 

George Ebert, do 

L. W. Pillars, do 

Lloyd Frees, do 

William Hobbs, do 

W. M. Anderson, do 

R. G. Pennington, 2 do 

S. P. Gross, do 
Josiah Roop, Republic, 

S. W. Shephard, do 

D. C. Myers, do 

George H. Show, do 

Robert Chamberlain, do 



NAMES. RESIDENCE. 

Jacob Roth, Tiffin, 

George W. Black, do 

A. A. Gardner, do 

J. E. Webster, do 

W. A. Kershiser, do 

Albert Beilhartz, do 

John L. Graves, do 
Dennis C. Stoner, Clinton, 
Adaline Buskirk, Melmore, 

Maria Colman, do 

Angeline Arnold, do 

Amanda Arnold, do 

Laura Buskirk, do 

Maria Ireland, do 

Emily Butterfield, do 

Robert McD. Gibson, do 

John Lambertson, do 

James F. Newton, do 

P. J. Price, 3 copies, do 

Isaac Arnold, do 

Dennis P. Edgar, do 

John C. Kinzer, do 
John Williamson, Republic, 

A. W. Littler, do 

Wm. R. Fleming, do 

Gad Goodspeed, do 

E. A. SLoat, do 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



247 



NAMES. RESIDENCE. 

T. M. Smith, Melmore, 

Nathan M. Wright, do 

William Lightcap, do 

Jacob C. High, do 

William C. Stephens, do 

E. B. Kinzer, do 

H. J. Roberts, do 
Francis W. Butterfield, do 

Scudder Chamberlain, do 

Jacob Chamberlain, do 
Emanuel Trimer, Eden, 

Richard Jayna, do 

John Crum, do 
James Gray, Melmore, 

Sylvanus Arnold, do 

Hiram Pratt, do 

Daniel M. Bate, do 

James M. Stevens, do 

William Melroy, do 
George W. Chamberlain, do 

Harding Smith, do 

Henry Kline, do 

A. Seitz, do 
Jas. C. R. Eastman, do 

Jacob Weeks, do 

Moses King, do 

H. K. Burg, do 

G. A. Blackwell, do 

James M. Chanche, do 

Henry Ladd, do 

William Wing, Eden, 
Samuel Seitz, do 



NAMES. RESIDENCE. 

John Lawrence, Eden, 

Levi Chamberlain, do 

John L. Downs, do 

George Kennedy, do 

Isaiah Cline, do 
George R. Weeks, Melmore, 

Jacob Krauss, do 

Horace Arnold, do 

E. J. Chamberlain, do 

John Osenbraugh, Eden, 

Harry Blackman, do 

John Wolf, do 

Ransom Holmes, do 

Nelson E. Merrell, do 

John Kinzer, do 

M. C. Gibson, do 

Philip Springer, do 

Joseph Hall, do 

William Dilley, . do 

Lloyd Norris, do 

Michael Kern, do 

Samuel Herrin, do 

Amos Nichols, do 

John Kagy, do 
Edward S. Bellamy, do 

Joel Wright, do 

John G. Patterson, do 

R. W. Bellamy, do 

George Swigart, do 

Samuel Garber, do 

Seneca C. Wing, do 
William B. Mathewson, do 



248 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES 



NAMES. RESIDENCE. 

Henry L. Blackman Eden, 

Edward Talman, do 

Robert L. Speer, do 

R. H. Squier, do 

Samuel Grelle, do 

Benjamin Brundage, do 

Gamaliel Cowles, do 

D. W. Graves, do 

Elizabeth Graves, do 

James B. Watson, do 

William Watson, do 

William Brown, do 

Isaac Bretz, do 

A. K. Bretz, do 

George Beaver, Bloom, 

Robert McClelland, do 

Jacob Black, do 

Noah Rhinehart, do 
Chester Brown, Crawf d co. 
Hugh Welch, Wyandot co. 

H, B. Martin, do 
J. Maynard, Republic. 

Calvin P. Ransom, do 

J. P. Maynard, do 

G. G. Smith, do 

N. P. Calwell, do 

Jason Parmenter, do 

W. C. Cole, do 

John S. Smith, do 

Jonas Roop, do 

W. A. Parks, ^ do 

G. H, Spangle, do 

H. R. Allison, do 



NAMES. RESIDENCE. 

James Davis 2 Republic 

W. M. Dildine, do 

P. M. Smith, do 

A. Burrill, do 

Timothy Craft, do 

E. S. Stickney, do 
A. G. Sargent, do 
O. E. Page, do 
Daniel Brown, do 
H. P. Benton, do 
David Lawton, do 
W. A. Barns, do 
Ezra Brown, do 
R. W. M'Cartney, do 
N. Church, do 
Wm. Parker, do 
W. W. Culver, do 
A. H. Westbrook, do 
Paul DeWitt, do 
Henry D. Wilson, do 

F. S. Kendall, do 

G. W. Haxton, do 
David Maltby, do 
L. D. McArdle, do 
R. F. Parks, do 
Nathan Foster, do 
Job Pettys, do 
Abr'm. T. Miller, do 
Peter Rumsey, do 
D. S. Reynolds,, do 
John B. Frary, do 
Jonathan Pettys, do 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction — page. 

Origin and signification of the word Ohio 7 

Discovery of the Mississippi river 8 

Expedition of M. de la Salle 9 

Expedition of M. D'lberville 10 

English charters 11 

Expedition of Crawford 12 

Treaty with the Indians 25 

First settlement in Ohio 26 

Survey of Cincinnati 27 

Building of Fort Washington 28 

Expedition of General Harmar 29 

Defeat of Arthur St. Clair 32 

Expedition of General Wayne 38 

Treaty of Greenville 42 

First territorial legislature convened 43 

Framing of the constitution 44 

Ohio admitted into the Union 46 

Alteration of laws 47 

Battle of Tippecanoe 48 

Croghan's victory 49 

Seat of the state government removed to Columbus, 51 

Chapter I. Aborigines — War between the Wyandots 
and Senecas — Naval fight — The Wyandots settle 
upon the Sandusky — Treaty with the Indians — 
Grant of land to the Seneca Indians — Their remov- 
al to the west — An execution for witchcraft 5§ 



250 CONTENTS. 

Chapter II. Simon Girty — His character — Attack oft 
Fort Henry — Girty's harangue^ — Attack upon Bry- 
ant's station — Girty 's speech — Answer of Rey- 
nolds — Girty's cruehy to Crawford corroborated — 
His death — Seneca Indians sacrificing two dogs 
to the Great Spirit 62 

Chapter III. Erection of counties — The new purchase 
— Land district — Sale of lands — Seneca county — 
Roads— Oakley — Sandusky river — Honey-creek — 
Wolf-creek — Organization of the county — Frst an- 
nual election 70 

Chapter IY. Camp Ball— First settler in Seneca county 
—Clinton township — Fort Ball — Robert Armstrong 
— William McCullock— Tiffin— Land-offices— Mad 
River and Lake Erie Rail-road 79 

Chapter Y. Seneca Patriot— Printing press— Inde- 
pendent Chronicle — Tiffin Gazette— Y an Burenite 
— Seneca Advertiser — Whig Standard — Cholera — 
Court-house — Jail and Shcrif's house — ^Bank 89 

Chapter VI. Journey of the Welches — John Yan- 

meter—Eden township — First physician — Melmore,* 97 

Chapter YII. Camp Seneca — Indian council—Fort 
Meigs — Fort Stephenson — General Harrison at 
camp Seneca — Grand camp — Perry's victory 105 

Chapter YIII. Attempt to assassinate Gen. Harrison — 
James Montgomery — Pleasant township — Fort Sen- 
eca — Peter Pork — William Spicer — Bloom town- 
ship — Elizabethtown — Bloomville — Silver-creek — 
Scipio township — Republic — Seneca County Acad- 
emy 1 18 

Chapter IX. Thompson township — Sink-holes — Cave 
— Lewisville — Reed township — Lodi — Yenice 
township — Caroline — Attica 131 



CONTENTS* ^51 



Chapter X. Sale of school sections— Free-schooli 
Present condition — Obstacles retarding their pro- 
gress 147 

Chapter XL Adams township — Sulphur-spring — Fes- 
tival of the Seneca Indians 155 

Chapter XII. Death of Hard- hickory — Benjamin F. 

Warner — Peter Pork — Charlieu — Jacob Nicely . . 168 

Chapter XIII. Murder of Drake— -Seneca township- 
Berwick Hopewell township— Bascom — Loudon 

township — Rome— Risdon — Liberty township — 
Bettsville — Jackson township 175 

Chapter XIV. Big-spring township— Springville — 

Oregon — Productions of the county — Conclusion . . 165 
Appendix » • • 1^1 



ABYERTISEMENT. 



Most of the works which have been consulted, and from 
which extracts have been made in collecting materials for this 
work, have been mentioned in the proper place. The author, 
however, has made fit'ce use of the "Western Adventure," 
" Chase's Statutes," and several other valuable works in com- 
piling the Introduction^ which were not thus acknowledged. 

In gathering materials from such a multiplicity of sources, 
it is hardly to be expected but that cn'ors have found their way 
into this history ; although great pains have been taken to get 
at fads, and to give dates as correct as possible. Should any 
errors be discovered, they will be promptly corrected in anoth- 
er edition, (if the sale of the present one warrant its publica- 
tion,) and where such are discovered by readers, they will 
confer a great favor by sending a communication with correc- 
tions, to the author, at Tiffin. 



THE END. 



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